By Allan H. F. Palmer
Monday, September 22, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Introduction
First let me make it clear, that this report is not about name calling or finger pointing, as name calling and finger pointing only aid in transferring blame that may or may not be attributed to the people responsible. Name calling and finger pointing are also childish actions and are very often done out of hurt and regret.
I must make it clear that I have no regrets over starting the blog, Crushing Fools, and I do not have any regrets about the outcome, which resulted in me submitting of my resignation and leaving the Bermuda Police Service (BPS). My resignation is an opportunity to move on and do new things. Most people are afraid of changes, but a lack of change only seeks to contribute in the stagnation of one life.
Now that I have explained what this document is not, I will endeavourer to tell you what its objective is.
1. To highlight administrational and other shortcomings that exist in the Bermuda Police Service
2. To address common operational flaws that hinder the proper policing of the 22 square miles that make up Bermuda
3. To address the recruitment and retention of Bermudans in the Bermuda Police Service
4. address flaws in the selection and operations of supervisors
5. To discuss how the Bermuda Police Service efforts to gain foreign police association accreditation how it is affecting the efficient running of the Bermuda Police Service
6. To suggest a proper mentoring program for new and locally trained officers
7. Most important, to make recommendations and provide possible solutions to the problems described
It is no secret that Bermuda is a very affluent country. Although this is an established fact more than half (a large percent) of the Bermuda population (sixty five percent of the population is Blacks) has to do a second or third job to ensure a comfortable life for themselves and their family. In the process, these people sacrifice the proper and effective parenting/nurturing of their children.
Most parents, who sacrifice the nurturing of their children, for the ability to gain financial affordability fail in their roles to provide the community with good law-abiding citizens. They ensure that their children are fed, clothed, housed etc. but they neglect the nurturing aspect of parenthood. Here is the beginning of the problems that the Bermuda Police Service is asked to deal with on a daily basis; antisocial behaviors, such as gang violence, school violence, domestic violence etc. Most of the children have not learned the necessary conflict-resolution skills which should have been thought in the homes by their parents. The parents are to busy to teach their children the simple skills that every child should have.
We very often expect the school and the church to succeed where there has been parental neglect over many years. There is only one institution capable of preparing a child to be a decent, law-abiding citizen: the family.
Unfortunately, ninety (80) percent of the people the Bermuda Police Service interacts with in a negative way are black people. The Members of the black community are victims as well as offenders. It is also true that at least eighty (80) percent of the crimes that are committed are committed by members of the black community, and eighty (80) percent of the victims of crimes are also members of the black community.
In service to humanity
Allan H. F. Palmer
Attitudes of the Bermudian Community
It is no secret that the Bermuda Police Service is one of the biggest in the entire world, per one thousand people. It is also a fact that the general culture, demeanor and attitude of Bermudian is one of a peace-loving people; but within the peace-loving demeanor there are some cycles that have been passed down from generation to generation and affect people’s interaction with each other and particularly with the police.
The Bermudian community reluctance to cooperate with the police is contributing to the steady rise in crime and criminal activities this country is seeing. This cannot be good for the main industries that sustain the Bermuda economy. If this trend continues, it may result in loss of tourism and may very well see the migration of the exempt companies as Bermuda becomes an unsafe place for tourists and foreign workers.
The big question we are forced to ask is: if Bermudians are generally peace-loving people and the Bermuda Police Service is one of the largest institutions of its kind in the world per thousand people, what phenomenon is responsible for the rapid increase in crime that Bermuda is now seeing?
The article that appeared on the Crushing Fools blog in January 2008, which was one of the two articles that motivated a front page story in the Royal Gazette of Bermuda and which was responsible for disturbing a few senior police officers of the BPS; one of the article evaluated Bermuda’s the crime statistics and was captioned “Let the Stats Speak to You” While the other encouraged the citizen and residents of Bermuda to take the country back from the criminal element that is forcing law abiding member of this community to life in fear.
These articles were posted in response to questions that were posed to me on a regular basis by members of the community, including members of my church community. The articles were written in an effort to address the concerns of those citizens who, were not only interested in but were also worried about the new spate of crime.
I will explain in very simple terms what constitutes a crime; the difference between crimes and other offences that are not crimes. Let me first inform you that I am not an expert on such matters but I have been actively practicing in the field of policing that make me quite competent to address this matter.
First, it is important to note that crimes, their structure, and penalties are legislated under the Criminal Code. In other words, a crime is any offence that is provided for in the Criminal Code.
I know the above definition will not mean much to most people; so I will take it a step further and give practical examples of what a crimes are and how an ordinary untrained man can distinguished a crime from any other offence.
The ordinary man definition: A crime is any offence that is committed by an individual or group, against an individual or a group and/or their property that resulted in loss, damage, destruction, injury, and or death.
Crimes that result in lost are offence of theft. Theft is an offence which results in someone dishonestly taking the property of another with the intention of permanently keeping that property, for their use or the use of another. The intent of the person who commits the offence of theft is to take the property of another and treat it as his or her own; they may use, sell, damage, destroy or even give it away. There are many type of theft.
Thefts of deception
These are thefts in which the offender deceives another in order to obtain some property that he did not have any rights to.
Thefts of embezzlement
In these of fences individual (s) who are entrusted with monies violate that trust and treat such monies as their own.
There are also other types of theft such as fraud etc.
Crimes that result in willful damage
This is a case where an individual who has no lawful right to a property, but his intentional action may result in that property changing its original form, and thus reducing its value and or its capacity to be used as intended. However a property that was damaged can regain its full use and value if it is repaired.
Crimes that results in destruction of property include some incidents of arson; or the intentional destruction of another property by the use of some force. If a property is destroyed, it can be replaced but not repaired.
Crimes that result in injury
Crimes that result in injury or death are normally crimes that were or can be committed against an individual and may be considered assault. Assault ranges from an unwanted touch to the infliction of blows that may results in
1.Pain
2. Contusion (swelling and discoloration)
3. Abrasion (the removal of the top layers of skin)
4. Laceration (cut/incision in the flesh)
5. Damage nerve tissues, lost of limb use and broken bones etc.
6. Broken bones
Common Assault
This offense is committed when an individual touches another and that person who was touched takes offense to that touch, or when an individual inflicts blows on another that do not result in any visible or detectable (on examination by a medical professional) injuries.
Although the Bermuda Police Service publishes the crime statistics, it is interesting to know what percentages of crimes reported were successfully detected and prosecuted, and what percentage of the crimes were closed undetected. Also, considering the fact that the tourist industry plays a major role in the economy of Bermuda, it will be important to note what percentage of crimes that are committed against tourists. This particular category of crimes should also be published and available to government policies makers as well as other stake holders in the tourist industry. Having this information readily available will aid the Bermuda Police Service, Government and other policy makers in Bermuda to developing their strategic plan to fight the various crimes and types of crimes. This will also help maintain Bermuda’s reputation as a safe tourist destination.
The discoveries:
Reported Theft:
There was a 24% rise in report of theft when compared to 2005 and 2006. This means that there were 24% more victims had been deprived of enjoying the pleasures of the sweat of their brow. Their hard earned monies and other personal possessions were taken from them by another whose intention was/is to permanently deprive the owner of such.
Burglaries
Crimes of intrusion also saw a leap in 2006 when compared to 2005. Our home, business premises and schools had become less safe, in that to secure these premises was not enough to ensure there safety.
The increases were as follows:
a. 11% increase in unlawful home invasion.
b. 19% increase in unlawful school invasion.
c. 73% increase in unlawful shop invasion.
d. 47% increase in unlawful office invasion.
e. 20% increase in unlawful unclassified premises invasion.
What does this mean to the citizens who are the main stake holders of this island, residents who are only here in most cases at the pleasure of their employees, and visitors who comes to enjoy the peace and stability of this tranquil Island?
Assault Causing Grievous Bodily Harm
We have seen a 34% rise in assault offences that may have resulted in possible broken bone and other injuries that may or could cause improper function of one’s limbs or organs due to nerve damage etc.
Sexual Assault:
Crimes of sexual assaults are normally crimes that are committed against females but not restricted to females. Another class of individuals who are increasingly becoming victims of such crimes are children of both genders. Bermuda has seen a 22% rise in such crimes for the period 2005-2006, and a 43% from 2004-2006.
Murder
The offence Murder has seen an unprecedented rise of 50% every two years. This can quickly become a frightening number.
I know most people may say we are not as bad as other jurisdiction. But the question we ought to ask is, are we as good as we were? It is extremely important to note, that the prosperity of most countries, states, Islands etc. are vastly dependent on the following:
1. Political stability
2. A low or a controllable crime rate
3. Infrastructural development
4. Trainable workforce.
It was reported by the BPS that there was an unprecedented rise in violent crime in Bermuda for the first quarter of 2008. it would have been good to get a break down of the crimes and what percent of those crimes were committed against tourist and none Bermudian.
Study by: Allan H. F. Palmer
Monitoring the Service of the Bermuda Police Service
I am of the opinion that actions of a large number of the Bermuda Police Service personnel leave much to be desired. Too often the victims are directly and or indirectly encouraged or forced (by members of the BPS) not to pursue prosecution but rather to request no further police action when a crime is committed against them. This mentality when propagated only benefits the criminal community. This attitude to policing only seeks to give the criminal community the assurance that the police are not going to take any action, thus give them the go-ahead to continue in a life of crime.
Most (not all) police officers are of the belief that policing Bermuda is all about showing up at the scene of an incident when it occurs, taking the victim’s particulars, an account of the incident, complete a written update on the computer, and making sure the update ends with some term like advise given and the victim “requested no further police action,” thus closing the case with no question asked. Whether the advice was actually given, how pertinent the information that was given, whether the victim really requested no further police action, or even how the victim came to such a decision, remains unknown.
The members of the Bermuda Police Service as it presently stands do not police the community in the true sense of the word; they are data in putters. The officers attend or go to incidents; they collect data, return to their various stations, and put the data into the police computer, ensuring that the statistics and events are recorded and updated. But the big question is: what level of redress does the community receive from those who are paid to protect and to serve them?
Question:
1. What prevention program the Bermuda Police Service has in place to effectively cut back on the number of crimes that are committed?
2. What proportion of Bermuda is patrolled by foot and how effective is foot patrol in crime prevention?
Mobile Patrol
Have you ever observed a police car moving from point A to point B or a police vehicle on mobile patrol? It is hard to determine whether a police vehicle is on mobile patrol or attending an incident that needs urgent attention. On an island where the speed limit is 35 km per hour; why is it necessary for the police vehicles to patrol at such fast rate of speed?
I have heard of many incidents in which police vehicles drove past a crime in progress. Police vehicles travel too fast for the occupants to properly observe the people and their activities as they drive by. A patrol is a slow drive which gives the officers enough time and the opportunity to observe the community and its activities; it gives them (the police) just enough time to verify that the activities are not unlawful, without invading the privacy of the residents. Mobile patrol is essential but it must be conducted in the correct manner in order to be effective. It is important to remember a mobile patrol is not a drive by or a drive through.
From my experience policing Bermuda there are but a few officers who actually conducted mobile patrols. Most of the police officers that conduct mobile patrols about Bermuda failed in this task; they conduct drive through and drive by which is done at fast rate of speed. Another unfortunate occurrence is the patrol of the points that are considered hot spots. Most officers avoid patrolling these areas for fear of confrontation, and when officers do drive through these areas they ignore the illegal activities that are being conducted, giving the people who are involved in criminal activities the idea that the police are afraid of them.
This goes even deeper when the communities observing the police behavior they sum up the actions as corrupt and affects the police relationship with the community:
a. The police as being involved or associated with the activities of the criminal (in most cases drug sellers/pushers)
b. Members of the community are uncomfortable when they are asked to provide assistance to the police, for fare that their confidence will be betrayed.
c. Has no confidence in the police ability or willingness to protect them and become fearful of the criminal elements that operate within their communities
Lets take for example the De Graff family that resides at the junction of St. Monica’s and The Glebe Road Pembroke. This family invested a hefty sum of money (a few million dollars) in constructing a new family home. The neighbors were/are involved in illegal activities, includes drug use and sales (this information was obtained from my observation when I went to deal with the loud noise report), they also played amplified music all day and at very late hours of the night, preventing this working family (the De Graff) from getting any night’s rest.
Although the loud music which was the basis of the report could be heard from the public road, and although this family had been calling the police for several months, none of the police officers who were dispatched and attended the report never dealt with the issue. They simply said that no loud music was heard. This was done for the simple reason that the police officers who were dispatched were too afraid to confront the offenders in the presence of their patrons. So this family was forced to exist in an unhealthy environment because the police were afraid or refused to do the job they took an oath to do. Therefore this family went through this unfortunate situation for several months until I was dispatched to deal with that reoccurring incident and took the appropriate steps that were needed, steps which should have been taken months before. To date my follow up revealed that the De Graff family now experienced a sense of peace in their home.
Promotion and the BPS
Although the promotion system of the Bermuda Police Service appears to be transparent it has been failing the organization. Many people are promoted before they learn to adequately and effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of their former rank. These people are now in supervisory positions, and are expected to teach, supervise, give informed direction and train their juniors. This is one of the unfortunate circumstances that exist within the Bermuda Police Service in all of the ranks and hampers the proper deployment of personnel because the promoted personnel are incapable of performing in their promoted capacities. An example of this is, the Hamilton Police Station had an individual who was responsible for its command. Unfortunately this commandant as a constable avoided learning the job as it related to policing, and despite quick promotion he did not understand the concept of policing. Hence the reason he always has three of his close inspector friends, assigned to his office in one capacity or the other.
If this individual had taken the time as a young constable to perform the basic every-day duties of that rank and had done the same in his capacity of a sergeant of police, an inspector etc. then he would have been an effective and efficient superintendent of police today and hopefully a very efficient and productive assistant, deputy or commissioner of police in the future. What is unfortunate is the fact that, even though this individual may realize that he does not possess the ability to efficiently fulfill the obligation of his present posting, he has the ambition of becoming commissioner of police and may very well hold that post one day.
So it is safe to say that the present process of promotion that the Bermuda Police Service has in place, although transparent, is not working well for the service. There are too many people in the Bermuda Police Service who have gained elevation to post they are unable to manage. This situation affects the Bermuda Police Service negatively in many ways. It also hampers the quality and the level of service the community receives, the number of crimes solved, the level of preventative policing the BPS provides to the community, and the proper distribution, utilization and management of the police resources in all of its capacity.
The Bermuda Police Service has to find a promotion system which can work positively for that institution. This system must allow for the promote of the individuals who went though the system, know the job, have the strength, tact and skill to get the personnel they supervise to honestly, effectively and efficiently perform their expected obligations to the service and to the community.
Because Bermuda is an affluent community it appears that the government has unending financial resources to run the different departments, but supervisors and managers must be made responsible and held accountable. They must ensure that the resources are properly managed. They must also ensure that the community receives a high quality of service; the type of service citizens, residents and visitors to this island deserve.
Attitudes and Qualifications of Senior Managers of the BPS
The Bermuda Police Service has for some years now moved away from being a force; unfortunately the managers of the service did not see fit to make the complete transformation form a force to a service in their policies.
Members of the Bermuda Police Service above the rank of sergeant should have strong human resources management skills. This is the necessary art of managing the complexity of characters and personalities that make up such institution. These members must be confident individuals who are not intimidated when they are asked to manage employees who may have a higher degree of competence, skills and training than they possess. Rather than becoming intimidated they must acknowledge the individual qualities and use the persons, skill sets, training and knowledge to benefit the organization.
Unless the Bermuda Police Service takes this path in ensuring that its senior and middle managers learn to manage personnel, it will be unable to retain trained, qualified and knowledge persons in the Police Service. As it stands, the middle and senior managers are intimidated by confident, knowledgeable and trained personnel whom the service employ. These people and their skill sets are not respected or properly utilized for the benefit of the Bermuda Police Service and the people of Bermuda. Instead, the middle and senior managers who are intimidated by such personnel tend to create a hostile environment for these officers, and make their time in the Bermuda Police Service uncomfortable one.
Senior managers are totally afraid of confidence. Any sign of confidence that is displayed by the BPS members, a quality which aids and contributes to professionalism, is scorned upon by the Service.
Recently the Members of the parliamentary opposition as well as the Bermuda Government were concerned about whether the Bermuda police service in its recruitment drive was recruiting officers with the necessary skills to effectively deal with the murders and other serious crimes that are occurring in Bermuda.
It is important that, when the Bermuda Police Service recruitment team goes to Europe or the Caribbean on their regular recruitment drive, their aim must be to employ officers with particular skills that would enhance the quality of the Bermuda Police Service which will be utilized for the benefit of the people of Bermuda. It will be futile to focus on recruiting such talent at this point and time, as the management of the Bermuda Police Service have not yet learn how to manage skill and competent personnel. There have to be changes in the attitude of senior management.
The Training of Local Recruits
The powers that be in the Bermuda Police Service are of the opinion that, in order to run an effective and efficient Police Training School all that is needed is a training syllabus or training manual. Although this is an important component, the Bermuda Police Training Center must work to develop the appropriate police culture that should be embedded in the training. This does several things:
1. It gives the potential police officer a firsthand knowledge and gets him or her accustomed to the hours he or she will be expected to work.
2. It gives the families of the officers the opportunity to learn about and become accustomed to the hours expected of police officers.
3. It gives the potential officer the ability to make alternative arrangements to accommodate the things that are important in his or her life.
This will alleviate some of the absenteeism that the Bermuda Police Service now experience among the locally trained officers. This is because most of the locally trained police officers were not adequately introduced to police culture during their training.
The Bermuda Police Service is experiencing a large exodus of its employees. What is being done to address this growing phenomenon? It is important to note that speculation over the reason for the exodus is not sufficient. The Bermuda Police Service needs to conduct legitimate studies on this growing problem and take steps to curb what may soon grow into national security issue.
In the year 2006 the Bermuda Police Service took a decision and terminated several young Bermudian officers who had passed their police recruitment training program. After they have failed what is referred to as a continuation course. For three years most of these officers have been effectively and efficiently performing police duties. They were investigating cases, submitting case files; they went to court and saw the defendants convicted. Like every officer they may have been weak in certain areas, yet after three years of policing, the training school (who is very often out of touch with real or practical policing) had the power to determine that these officers, who have been performing efficiently, were not capable of being police officers.
Such program should not be tailored to determine whether the individuals are capable of performing in the capacity of a police officer, but instead they should analyze the officers skill set and provide help in area where these officers need such help. The quarterly evaluations of their supervisors on the ground should be responsible for determine whether an individual has the potential and ability to perform the duties of their expected post.
Officer Safety Training the Bermuda Police Service Style: A Joke
The BPS put a tremendous amount of time into officer safety training. But this program (safety training) is not done with the core role and expectation of the Bermuda Police Service in mind: that is, to protect and to serve.
The police cannot protect the community unless they are willing to face the danger the community is forced to confront. The current means of training is not appropriate for a small island such as Bermuda. Unfortunately, the Bermuda Police Service has adopted its training style from big metropolises, where people are very impersonal, and has applied it to the small community of Bermuda.
There are many factors that must be considered such as.
a. The level, frequency and nature of the threats in the big, over-populated cities and countries differ from those of Bermuda.
b. The difference in the size and layout of the cities when compared to that of Bermuda.
c. The size and the design of the buildings are far different from that of Bermuda.
It is important to note that the training imparted to the officers in the big cities and countries are tailor for those particular countries’ situation. To adopt such training to the Bermuda situation is not wise. The present training as it stands teaches the officers of the Bermuda Police Service to run away from any threat or danger; to the community, to ourselves and or our colleagues.
There was an incident in the western district which resulted in police officer Sean Brooms received serious injury to his head which was inflicted by a machete wielding mad man. All of PC brooms colleagues abandoned him. PC Brooms were left him to the mercy of a raving lunatic. Terry Thomas was later arrested, prosecuted convicted and imprisoned for that incident.
It was reported that when PC Brooms was attacked he was totally helpless for several reasons.
1. He was never really taught how to defend himself in such a situation as is apart of the training in other police organization (PC Brooms was retrained by the BPS).
2. He was only implementing what he was taught by the Bermuda Police Service: run away from the danger.
3. His colleagues also did as they were taught, and ran away from danger.
4. One of the officers even locked herself in the assailant’s house, thus preventing PC Brooms from entering the house when he tried to escape the danger.
Could you imagine such a thing happening to members of the public, with police officers abandoning them in the same manner PC brooms was abandoned?
The Bermuda Police Service seriously needs to reexamine the way it prepares its members to protect the community. The management of the Bermuda Police Service has got to come to a simple understanding that policing is serious business; it is not about appearance but it is about providing such a high level of service that the community feels safe and develops a willingness to help the police, and in the process aids in crime reduction.
Monitoring and Providing Accountability for the Proper Investigation of Crimes
The Bermuda Police service needs to put into place a system by which crimes committed are investigated and the officers that are assigned to such cases are at all time accountable for presenting progress reports.
Recently the Bermuda Police Service was involved in a restructuring process. The process left intelligent people wondering what factors the senior management of the Bermuda Police Service took into consideration while developing and before implementing its restructuring program. Any vital institution such as the Police Service must implement new ideas in collaboration with other institutions. Certain impacting factors must first be examined. The institution must examine not only how such restructuring would impact on the institution’s ability to function effectively, but also how such a restructuring program will impact on other vital, governmental and social structures within the community.
For example, the drug problem on this island is not just a big issue; it is a serious issue that affects a large cross section of the Bermuda community and which makes nonfunctional a large demographic of the island’s human resources (black community). This having a tremendous adverse economical effect on the community; take for example the dissolving of the narcotics street team. This team was responsible for the reduction of the sale of drugs on Bermuda’s streets. This specialized team apprehends dealers and made it difficult for drugs to be sold on the streets of our communities.
When we consider the turning point program that is facilitated by the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute sees about 250 to 300 (this number may be off due to bad memory) new drug addiction cases each year. This means that between 250 and 300 people would have use drugs for the first time and eventually may have become addicted to one of the many substances that comes onto this island, destroying their life for ever. You are forced to asked, was it wise to dissolve the narcotics street team? How many of Bermuda’s youth could have been spared the anguish of a life of addiction that helps to destroy the potential (already small) labor force?
The Bermuda Police Service has well-trained personnel and a well-staffed intelligence department, a competent K9 unit, a narcotics department that does a lot of long hours (as is reflected by the overtime they make) and who also works in collaboration with the Bermuda Customs. With all of these facilities in place, why can’t the Bermuda Police Service make any meaningful drug interception and put a dent in the drug supply, thereby sparing Bermuda youth the curse of becoming addicted?
After four years in Bermuda, I have never heard of a scarcity of any illegal substance on the island and neither have I ever heard of any laboratory on the island that manufactures any of the illegal substance. So the question must be asked, after reviewing the resources outlined above, why is there always a steady supply of illegal drugs available?
Losing The War On Drugs
In December 2005 when George Jackson was appointed Commissioner of Police with responsibility for managing the affairs of Bermuda Police Service, it was a part of the strategic plan of the Government to appoint a professional in the capacity of an Assistance Commissioner of Police (ACP) who would be responsible for tackling the narcotic problem that is swiftly destroying Bermuda’s (mainly the black male) population. This new appointee was to be assigned to the Bermuda Police Service.
The people of Bermuda will like to know if there was such an appointment made, and if there was have the country benefited from such an investment? Very often an individual in such a position often get off without actually performing in the capacity in which he or she was employed to function; yet they continually reap the reward for an obligation that they failed to live up to.
When any government invest public funds to deal with a matter that is as technical and sensitive as the drugs crisis that is presently demobilizing the labor force, (skill and unskilled human resources) of the nation; there must be checks, balances and other means of evaluating the progress of lack of progress of the individual (s). This is two sensitive an issue to allow to go unmonitored; there is too much at stake.
One way of assessing the progress or lack of progress of such an appointee is to compare data, and programs and the effectiveness of the programs that was implemented to tackle the problems. Below are six points that can be considered:
1. What program or programs were put in place to enhance the Bermuda Police Service effectiveness and efficiency in detecting, arresting, investigating, and prosecution of the smugglers, traffickers and suppliers of drugs in the community?
2. The quantity of drug arrest made by the Bermuda Police Service that is attributed to programs implemented by this appointee, and how does the statistics compare to the time of his appointment to the present, in relations to pass corresponding periods.
3. The quantity of drugs that was seized by the Bermuda Police Service that is attributed to programs implemented by the appointee; and how does the statistics compare to the time of his appointment to the present, in relation to pass corresponding periods.
4. How many new individuals had become addicted to one of the many illegal substances that are available on the streets of Bermuda when compare to the time of his appointment to the present, in relation to pass corresponding periods? (These data can be obtained from the various treatment facilities on the island)
5. How many new drug pushers have emerged providing retail service in the community? (this information can be obtained from the intelligence division of the Bermuda Police Service)
6. How many cases have the Bermuda Police Service have successfully:
a. investigated
b. Prosecuted
c. And gain conviction for; for to the period of his appointment to present when compared to corresponding periods.
7. How many seizures or properties etc. were confiscation by the Bermuda Police service under the proceeds of Drugs act 19 . When compare to the time of his appointment to the present, in relation to pass corresponding periods?
8. How many arrests were made by the Bermuda Police Service as it relates to the laundering of drugs money when compare to the time of his appointment to the present, in relation to pass corresponding periods.
9. There are many other indicators which can be used to evaluate the progress or lack of progress of this appointee designate.
Study by: Allan H. F. Palmer
Internal Coruption
Although I have heard from drug dealers that there are police officers who are employed by the same people whom they (the dealers) are working for, I am yet to see any evidence or learn of anyone who is directly or indirectly involved in drugs, although I came very close to making a discovery. This fact makes me wonder if my inquisitiveness was not one of the reasons I was suspended and followed everywhere I went. However, when I arranged with a friend to purposely discuss this matter on my home phone, which was bugged, and I openly confessed, (in that telephone conversation that when I was speaking to the individual) that I was bluffing. It was only then that the person who ordered me followed chose to redirect the resources of the Bermuda Police Service.
Could it be that my inquiries and my interrogation of this noted drug pusher and suspected murderer made him nervous, to the point where he almost divulged confidential information which would have include naming members of the Bermuda Police Service who are on the pay role of a drug boss? Could it also be, that my interrogation of this noted drug pusher and suspected murderer made the officers who are on the pay role of this drug boss nervous that they had to have me closely monitored?
The Barbadian Mafia
There is also a close-knit Barbadian group that is known for working things out in their favor. This group has members of their inner circle strategically placed in key departments with direct instructions. They look out for the interest of the group and very often pervert the course of internal justice to protect their own. In other words, when members of the community or other officers make complaints against members of the inner circle, there reports have a tendency to die unnatural or coordinated deaths. But members outside this group are allowed to go through the process, their matters are investigative, and they are punished for their wrong doing. Not so for the closely knitted Barbadian group.
These types of behaviors affect the morale of not only the people against whom the injustice is inflicted but those people who have seen the injustice and have no hope for vindication for the individuals that have been wronged. Members of this group also ensure that their members get every opportunity to make more money than the average. Extra duties and overtime are detailed in favor of members of this group. If one examined the annual salaries of a uniform Barbadian officer you will notice the wide disparity when compared to other uniform officers.
On a few occasion I was assigned cases for which I carried out investigation into these matters: after the investigation, collection of the evidence, discussion with my supervisor, and after we have decided that prosecution of the offenders was the best course of action. (These decisions would have been arrived at after many requests by senior members of the service for me to compromise my integrity and aid in the miscarriage of justice ignoring my findings).
However, after I would have submitted the case file they never reach the Police Prosecutions Office or the director of the Public Prosecution Office. These case files just disappeared, my personal inquiries would have fall on deft ears. No one was ever concerned enough to investigate the movement and disappearance of the case files and why defendants were not prosecuted.
The unfortunate thing is that these activities are common in the Bermuda Police Service, but no one is willing to upset the status quo. It is hard to understand that people whose duty it is to aid in ensuring that justice is done instead aid and abet the direct opposite, depriving the general public of due process.
Could it be that my inquiries and my interrogation of this noted drug pusher and suspected murderer made him nervous, to the point where he almost divulged confidential information which would have include naming members of the Bermuda Police Service who are on the pay role of a drug boss? Could it also be, that my interrogation of this noted drug pusher and suspected murderer made the officers who are on the pay role of this drug boss nervous that they had to have me closely monitored?
The Barbadian Mafia
There is also a close-knit Barbadian group that is known for working things out in their favor. This group has members of their inner circle strategically placed in key departments with direct instructions. They look out for the interest of the group and very often pervert the course of internal justice to protect their own. In other words, when members of the community or other officers make complaints against members of the inner circle, there reports have a tendency to die unnatural or coordinated deaths. But members outside this group are allowed to go through the process, their matters are investigative, and they are punished for their wrong doing. Not so for the closely knitted Barbadian group.
These types of behaviors affect the morale of not only the people against whom the injustice is inflicted but those people who have seen the injustice and have no hope for vindication for the individuals that have been wronged. Members of this group also ensure that their members get every opportunity to make more money than the average. Extra duties and overtime are detailed in favor of members of this group. If one examined the annual salaries of a uniform Barbadian officer you will notice the wide disparity when compared to other uniform officers.
On a few occasion I was assigned cases for which I carried out investigation into these matters: after the investigation, collection of the evidence, discussion with my supervisor, and after we have decided that prosecution of the offenders was the best course of action. (These decisions would have been arrived at after many requests by senior members of the service for me to compromise my integrity and aid in the miscarriage of justice ignoring my findings).
However, after I would have submitted the case file they never reach the Police Prosecutions Office or the director of the Public Prosecution Office. These case files just disappeared, my personal inquiries would have fall on deft ears. No one was ever concerned enough to investigate the movement and disappearance of the case files and why defendants were not prosecuted.
The unfortunate thing is that these activities are common in the Bermuda Police Service, but no one is willing to upset the status quo. It is hard to understand that people whose duty it is to aid in ensuring that justice is done instead aid and abet the direct opposite, depriving the general public of due process.
Study by: Allan H. F. Palmer
Becoming A Target
Nicole Allars:
Nicole Allars was employed with the Bermuda Police Service as a Station Duty Officer. SDO Allars made a report of an allegation of sexual harassment against one of her colleagues. This allegation was not taken seriously because of the accused person’s affiliation. SOD Allars report was not given the attention that such allegations should be given.
Later Allars was terminated from her position with the Bermuda Police Force. Later SDO Allars discovered that her accuser and the Commissioner of Police was close associate. The complainant is of the belief that her termination was done in order to abort the investigation of sexual harassment she brought against an individual who is of the same religion as the Commissioner of Police, who attends the same church as the commissioner of police and a person whom the commissioner often call upon to perform task on his behalf.
CASE 2
Michael Hayles.
Michael Hayles a Jamaican by birth and was recruited by the Bermuda Police Service from his native Jamaica. Michael was a member of the Emergency Response Team which was headed by a Caucasian inspector (who will remain nameless). Michael made an allegation against this inspector. It was Michael’s allegation that this inspector made discriminatory remarks and addressed him in a manner that was prejudicial.
Michael followed the protocol and submitted the relevant complaints, none of which was investigated. Michael and the inspector were transferred from ERT. Later the alleged offending inspector was reinstated in his post. No explanation given. Michael Hayles continued his quest for answers and was met with slammed doors. For seeking justice, he was labeled a trouble maker and was ostracized.
CASE 3
Emerson Donald
Emerson Donald is another Jamaican police officer who was recruited by the Bermuda Police Service, a very quiet hard-working and honest West Indian. No one ever knew that PC Donald existed until PC Donald fell ill and discovered that his kidneys had been severely deteriorated. Medical investigation revealed that Donald’s condition resulted from working in an environment that was mold infested. Investigation revealed that PC Donald was exposed to the mold Aspergillus Ocharcceous that is produces a toxin that is associated with Kidney failure. Donald was also informed that the current rate of deterioration would see him needing dialysis three times daily in two years’ time.
PC Donald, who brought this to the attention of the senior management, was made the target of negative treatment; treatment that made his working environment a very hostile and uncomfortable one. PC Donald was accused of being mentally unstable by his supervisors; he was also made to a psychological evaluation to justify a nonrenewal of a contract. Fortunately for PC Donald the examination of the psychologist found PC Donald to be in good mental health.
CASE 4:
Allan Palmer
It is no secret that Allan Palmer Police Constable 2209 is the creator and administrator of the blog Crushing Fools. In his efforts to increase the hits on my blog and thus increase the opportunity of people accessing the advertisement that are displayed on the page he launched a simple promotional effort. PC Palmer designed and posted a poster on private vehicle 38668 which is owned by and registered to Allan Palmer.
Soon after the poster advertising the Crushing Fools bolg was posted on the private vehicle a written instruction was sent to PC Palmer from Acting Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bell. In the letter ACP Bell instructed PC Palmer to remove from public view the advertisement advertising the blog Crushing Fools.
Was the order that was issued by ACP Bell a lawful order? Under which authority did ACP Bell issue such instruction? In order for ACP Bell order to be consider as a lawful order he have to derived his authority from one of the following piece of regulation, or police authorized document. I had to be direct contravention of
1. Laws of Bermuda
2. The Police Regulation 1974
3. The police Disciplinary Code 1975
4. An approved policy of the Bermuda Police Service.
So the question was ACP Bell in issuing such an instruction and expected PC Palmer to follow the same, isn’t he in direct contravention of section 6 of the Police Regulation 1974 which states:
Members of the Service to obey lawful orders
Sec. 6
Every member of the Service shall obey all lawful orders of his superior officers and Justices of the Peace whether given verbally or in writing and shall obey and conform to all police regulations, orders and instructions made under this Act.
We must bear in mind that this section did not state that members of the Service shall obey all orders. It clearly states that members of the force shall obey all lawful orders. This in it self tells you that it is not all orders that my come down from the Commissioner of Police or one acting in his stead are lawful. And if you must obey all lawful order then you reserve the rights to disobey or refrain from complying with any unlawful order.
PC Palmer knowing that the order as was given by ACP Bell was not a lawful order and he was not obligated to comply with such order, ignored the instruction. As a result ACP Bell caused fifteen charges to be brought against PC Palmer. Is it not true to say that the action of ACP Bell was a blunt display of an abuse of power; and won’t it be true to say that ACP bell was in direct contravention of section 2 subsection (b) (c) the Police Disciplinary Code 1975, which clearly states that:
(b) An officer may be guilty of oppressive conduct: if a police officer is guilty of oppressive or tyrannical conduct towards an inferior in rank or
(d) If willfully or negligently make a false complaint or statement against any other officer.
Isn’t the Action of ACP Bell in direct contravention of the Chapter 1 section 15 subsection (1) which should be read with section 9 of the Bermuda Constitution which deals with Protection from Inhuman Treatment and which clearly States:
Protection of freedom of expression
9 (1) Except with his consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, and for the purposes of this section the said freedom includes freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference, and freedom from interference with his correspondence.
15 (1) No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Ensuring Due Process for the community and junior officers.
The Bermuda Police Service is a very exploitive institution. It amazes me that such an institution would be allowed to operate in such a modern community as Bermuda and get away with such corrupt and inhumane practices.
The oppressive conduct, behaviors and practice by senior officers are often ignored and go unaddressed, thus causing an element of fear and stress amount its ranks. This give rise to the large number of stress related illnesses that is suffered by members of this institution. It is believed that the Bermuda Police Service has the highest percentages of stress related illnesses for any institution in Bermuda (government and private sector)
There is a problem of negligence as it relates to complaint made by the public against members of the Bermuda Police Service, very often these complaints are ignored, and disregarded thus denying the complaining public due process.
Nicole Allars was employed with the Bermuda Police Service as a Station Duty Officer. SDO Allars made a report of an allegation of sexual harassment against one of her colleagues. This allegation was not taken seriously because of the accused person’s affiliation. SOD Allars report was not given the attention that such allegations should be given.
Later Allars was terminated from her position with the Bermuda Police Force. Later SDO Allars discovered that her accuser and the Commissioner of Police was close associate. The complainant is of the belief that her termination was done in order to abort the investigation of sexual harassment she brought against an individual who is of the same religion as the Commissioner of Police, who attends the same church as the commissioner of police and a person whom the commissioner often call upon to perform task on his behalf.
CASE 2
Michael Hayles.
Michael Hayles a Jamaican by birth and was recruited by the Bermuda Police Service from his native Jamaica. Michael was a member of the Emergency Response Team which was headed by a Caucasian inspector (who will remain nameless). Michael made an allegation against this inspector. It was Michael’s allegation that this inspector made discriminatory remarks and addressed him in a manner that was prejudicial.
Michael followed the protocol and submitted the relevant complaints, none of which was investigated. Michael and the inspector were transferred from ERT. Later the alleged offending inspector was reinstated in his post. No explanation given. Michael Hayles continued his quest for answers and was met with slammed doors. For seeking justice, he was labeled a trouble maker and was ostracized.
CASE 3
Emerson Donald
Emerson Donald is another Jamaican police officer who was recruited by the Bermuda Police Service, a very quiet hard-working and honest West Indian. No one ever knew that PC Donald existed until PC Donald fell ill and discovered that his kidneys had been severely deteriorated. Medical investigation revealed that Donald’s condition resulted from working in an environment that was mold infested. Investigation revealed that PC Donald was exposed to the mold Aspergillus Ocharcceous that is produces a toxin that is associated with Kidney failure. Donald was also informed that the current rate of deterioration would see him needing dialysis three times daily in two years’ time.
PC Donald, who brought this to the attention of the senior management, was made the target of negative treatment; treatment that made his working environment a very hostile and uncomfortable one. PC Donald was accused of being mentally unstable by his supervisors; he was also made to a psychological evaluation to justify a nonrenewal of a contract. Fortunately for PC Donald the examination of the psychologist found PC Donald to be in good mental health.
CASE 4:
Allan Palmer
It is no secret that Allan Palmer Police Constable 2209 is the creator and administrator of the blog Crushing Fools. In his efforts to increase the hits on my blog and thus increase the opportunity of people accessing the advertisement that are displayed on the page he launched a simple promotional effort. PC Palmer designed and posted a poster on private vehicle 38668 which is owned by and registered to Allan Palmer.
Soon after the poster advertising the Crushing Fools bolg was posted on the private vehicle a written instruction was sent to PC Palmer from Acting Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bell. In the letter ACP Bell instructed PC Palmer to remove from public view the advertisement advertising the blog Crushing Fools.
Was the order that was issued by ACP Bell a lawful order? Under which authority did ACP Bell issue such instruction? In order for ACP Bell order to be consider as a lawful order he have to derived his authority from one of the following piece of regulation, or police authorized document. I had to be direct contravention of
1. Laws of Bermuda
2. The Police Regulation 1974
3. The police Disciplinary Code 1975
4. An approved policy of the Bermuda Police Service.
So the question was ACP Bell in issuing such an instruction and expected PC Palmer to follow the same, isn’t he in direct contravention of section 6 of the Police Regulation 1974 which states:
Members of the Service to obey lawful orders
Sec. 6
Every member of the Service shall obey all lawful orders of his superior officers and Justices of the Peace whether given verbally or in writing and shall obey and conform to all police regulations, orders and instructions made under this Act.
We must bear in mind that this section did not state that members of the Service shall obey all orders. It clearly states that members of the force shall obey all lawful orders. This in it self tells you that it is not all orders that my come down from the Commissioner of Police or one acting in his stead are lawful. And if you must obey all lawful order then you reserve the rights to disobey or refrain from complying with any unlawful order.
PC Palmer knowing that the order as was given by ACP Bell was not a lawful order and he was not obligated to comply with such order, ignored the instruction. As a result ACP Bell caused fifteen charges to be brought against PC Palmer. Is it not true to say that the action of ACP Bell was a blunt display of an abuse of power; and won’t it be true to say that ACP bell was in direct contravention of section 2 subsection (b) (c) the Police Disciplinary Code 1975, which clearly states that:
(b) An officer may be guilty of oppressive conduct: if a police officer is guilty of oppressive or tyrannical conduct towards an inferior in rank or
(d) If willfully or negligently make a false complaint or statement against any other officer.
Isn’t the Action of ACP Bell in direct contravention of the Chapter 1 section 15 subsection (1) which should be read with section 9 of the Bermuda Constitution which deals with Protection from Inhuman Treatment and which clearly States:
Protection of freedom of expression
9 (1) Except with his consent, no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of expression, and for the purposes of this section the said freedom includes freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference, and freedom from interference with his correspondence.
15 (1) No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Ensuring Due Process for the community and junior officers.
The Bermuda Police Service is a very exploitive institution. It amazes me that such an institution would be allowed to operate in such a modern community as Bermuda and get away with such corrupt and inhumane practices.
The oppressive conduct, behaviors and practice by senior officers are often ignored and go unaddressed, thus causing an element of fear and stress amount its ranks. This give rise to the large number of stress related illnesses that is suffered by members of this institution. It is believed that the Bermuda Police Service has the highest percentages of stress related illnesses for any institution in Bermuda (government and private sector)
There is a problem of negligence as it relates to complaint made by the public against members of the Bermuda Police Service, very often these complaints are ignored, and disregarded thus denying the complaining public due process.
Study by: Allan H. F. Palmer
Ensuring Due Process for the community and junior officers.
Ensuring Due Process for the community and junior officers.
The Bermuda Police Service is a very exploitive institution. It amazes me that such an institution would be allowed to operate in such a modern community as Bermuda and get away with such corrupt and inhumane practices.
The oppressive conduct, behaviors and practice by senior officers are often ignored and go unaddressed, thus causing an element of fear and stress amount its ranks. This give rise to the large number of stress related illnesses that is suffered by members of this institution. It is believed that the Bermuda Police Service has the highest percentages of stress related illnesses for any institution in Bermuda (government and private sector)
There is a problem of negligence as it relates to complaint made by the public against members of the Bermuda Police Service, very often these complaints are ignored, and disregarded thus denying the complaining public due process.
Bermuda Police Service Oversight Committee (BPSOC)
The Governor as well as the minister of Home Affairs should ensure that the relevant instrument be put in place for a Bermuda Police Service Oversight Committee (BPSOC) to over see and ensure that members of the public and junior officers received (their complaints are investigated without prejudice) due process.
It should be the duty of the B.P.S.O.C to review every complaint that is made by members of the public, junior members of the Bermuda Police Service, ensuring that such allegations are investigated without bias and the complaints received due process.
The oversight committee on the request by a junior officer being charged can petitioned the BPSOC to review any discrepancies or action of wrong doing as it relates to any allegations brought against that officer. The BPSOC will only get involved in the review of a disciplinary investigation or action against a junior if the following condition was made:
1 The BPSRC must be requested by the accuse person or someone on behalf of the accuse person informing the committee that there may be an injustice that has happen or is likely to happen.
2 Just reason for such intervention should be provided and clearly stated and if it is possible evidence of this allegation of wrong doing should be presented or means of obtaining such evidence should be clearly stated.
The oversight committee should be endowed with the power to order an investigation into the allegations of wrong doing or potential wrong doing that merited the Oversight Committee’s intervention. If it was proven that an individual or group of individuals were responsible for conspiring to aid or cause a miscarriage of justice or any allegations off oppressive conduct can be proven the person or people involved should be charged for the same and be prosecuted in an internal tribunal for the matter. If it can be proven that there was a contravention of a criminal code, then that person may or may not be charge criminally.
The Bermuda Police Service is a very exploitive institution. It amazes me that such an institution would be allowed to operate in such a modern community as Bermuda and get away with such corrupt and inhumane practices.
The oppressive conduct, behaviors and practice by senior officers are often ignored and go unaddressed, thus causing an element of fear and stress amount its ranks. This give rise to the large number of stress related illnesses that is suffered by members of this institution. It is believed that the Bermuda Police Service has the highest percentages of stress related illnesses for any institution in Bermuda (government and private sector)
There is a problem of negligence as it relates to complaint made by the public against members of the Bermuda Police Service, very often these complaints are ignored, and disregarded thus denying the complaining public due process.
Bermuda Police Service Oversight Committee (BPSOC)
The Governor as well as the minister of Home Affairs should ensure that the relevant instrument be put in place for a Bermuda Police Service Oversight Committee (BPSOC) to over see and ensure that members of the public and junior officers received (their complaints are investigated without prejudice) due process.
It should be the duty of the B.P.S.O.C to review every complaint that is made by members of the public, junior members of the Bermuda Police Service, ensuring that such allegations are investigated without bias and the complaints received due process.
The oversight committee on the request by a junior officer being charged can petitioned the BPSOC to review any discrepancies or action of wrong doing as it relates to any allegations brought against that officer. The BPSOC will only get involved in the review of a disciplinary investigation or action against a junior if the following condition was made:
1 The BPSRC must be requested by the accuse person or someone on behalf of the accuse person informing the committee that there may be an injustice that has happen or is likely to happen.
2 Just reason for such intervention should be provided and clearly stated and if it is possible evidence of this allegation of wrong doing should be presented or means of obtaining such evidence should be clearly stated.
The oversight committee should be endowed with the power to order an investigation into the allegations of wrong doing or potential wrong doing that merited the Oversight Committee’s intervention. If it was proven that an individual or group of individuals were responsible for conspiring to aid or cause a miscarriage of justice or any allegations off oppressive conduct can be proven the person or people involved should be charged for the same and be prosecuted in an internal tribunal for the matter. If it can be proven that there was a contravention of a criminal code, then that person may or may not be charge criminally.
Study by: Allan H. F. Palmer
Ensuring Complainant Receives Due Process.
To ensure that all attempt to pervert the course of Justice is aborted; the officer who is responsible for taking the initial report should ensure the following triplicate “Proof of Complaint form” which will be provided are filled out. It is not required that the police officer who is responsible for taking the initial report to record a statement from the complainant it should be within the discretion of that officer to record a detail statement of the incident.
The Proof of Complaint form should provide for the following information.
1. Name of Complainant
2. Name of Defendant
3. Name of recording officer
4. Name person present
5. Nature of offence (s)
6. Date of offence (s)
7. Place of offence
8. four place for names of witnesses
9. Signature of Complainant
10. Signature of person present
11. signature of recording officer
The use of the forms and the copies:
The signature of the complainant and the reporting officer is enough to consider this report an authentic report that should be given the benefit of an inquiry. The original copy of the Proof of Complaint form should go to the person making the complaint. A copy should be forwarded with a hard copy A45 address to the commissioner of police following the protocol that is in place for such. And the last copy should be sent to the office of the Oversight Committee. It will be in the best interest of the officer who took the initial report to make a copy of the Proof of Complaint Form for his person records.
The officer who is responsible for taking the initial report is responsible for informing his immediate supervisors via email of the report that was made, and the action taken. This email should be cc. to the Commissioner of Police and to the chairman of the Oversight Committee.
The Proof of Complaint form should provide for the following information.
1. Name of Complainant
2. Name of Defendant
3. Name of recording officer
4. Name person present
5. Nature of offence (s)
6. Date of offence (s)
7. Place of offence
8. four place for names of witnesses
9. Signature of Complainant
10. Signature of person present
11. signature of recording officer
The use of the forms and the copies:
The signature of the complainant and the reporting officer is enough to consider this report an authentic report that should be given the benefit of an inquiry. The original copy of the Proof of Complaint form should go to the person making the complaint. A copy should be forwarded with a hard copy A45 address to the commissioner of police following the protocol that is in place for such. And the last copy should be sent to the office of the Oversight Committee. It will be in the best interest of the officer who took the initial report to make a copy of the Proof of Complaint Form for his person records.
The officer who is responsible for taking the initial report is responsible for informing his immediate supervisors via email of the report that was made, and the action taken. This email should be cc. to the Commissioner of Police and to the chairman of the Oversight Committee.
Study by: Allan H. F. Palmer
Unhealthy Working condition for BPS members
When I considered the working condition, under which we as police officers were asked to function my blood moved with in me. I was horrified when my eyes behold some document that had with in their pages the most frighten revelations; some of which I will bring to your attention.
According to the executive summary of the May 2003 study which was conducted by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constables (HMIC) Mr. David Blakey, which states in paragraph 12 “Whilst officers have been given quite a range of safety equipment for use on patrol, they are less safe in the building that they work in, some of which are in contravention of the Health and Safety Code. HMCI personal observation revealed not only was the building unsuitable and unsafe to work in and to take prisoners to, they were also in stark contrast to other government buildings in Bermuda.”
In recommendation 9, HMIC recommended that the government of Bermuda examine its capital work projects to see if they can allocate funds to refurbish and or rebuild the police premises. HMIC saw this issue as a serious problem that needed urgent attention to ensure the safety and welfare of all police, prisoners, and members of the public who visits and work in police premises.
The foresight and insight of HMIC was tremendous. I am convinced that outgoing governor His Excellency Sir, John Vereka and out going Commissioner of Police Jonathan Smith knew of the reputation and trust the judgment of HMIC hence the reason they commissioned HMIC to conduct this study. Yet no one paid attention to the findings of in Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constable study.
I also managed to access a November 2006, air quality assessment study that was conducted by Bermuda Water Consultant ltd. (BWC) on the Hamilton Police Station. The revelation that is contained in this study is terrifying.
This study revealed that the ground floor of the Hamilton Police Station has a concentration of Mould and mould spores that is in excess of 29 times of the acceptable level. What was unfortunate however, is the fact that the report did not show the specific findings of the test that was conducted on the forth floor of the Hamilton Police Station in November 2006. This part of the Hamilton Police Station is where the is Criminal Investigation Department is housed and it is believed, that this section of the building has the highest concentration of mold and mould spores than any other section in the entire building, so much so that the concentration of mould and their spores in this area, adversely affect the air quality to the extent that the air is a tainted in that it transforms the air quality to a musty odor that permeate throughout entire vicinity.
According to the report there are seven different species of mould that inhabits the Hamilton Police Station which includes:
1. The Aspergillus is considered to be the most potent of the group; this mold produces among others, a toxin that is called Ochratoxin A, which is a key element in Kidney failure. This mold is also responsible for causing invasive and chronic pulmonary Asporgillosis which can lead to sudden and unexplained (if you do not know what to look for) death if allow to go undiagnosed.
2. Basidiospores
3. Ascospores
4. sercospora
5. caldosportum
6. curvularia
7. Smuits / Myxomycetes / periconia
Unfortunately there is not enough scientific study done on, or that is available to me on the other molds that will allow me to justify or match some of the other symptoms I have been hearing of.
I am therefore seeking answer for the following questions.
1. Could it be that the unexplained and sudden death of Timothy Herbert, Paul Marsden and Andrew Wooldridge (all healthy men, Marsden and Wooldridge were avid sports men) were as a results of a build up of toxin in their bodies which was resulted from prolong exposure to the mould infested police environment?
2. Could it be, that the sudden and unexplained diagnosis of severe kidney failure that was discovered in Emerson Donald, (who the medical professional predicted will have to be on dialysis in the next few years) was resulted from the prolong or periodic (some people has a disposition to become vulnerable to a toxin) exposure to mold and mold spores infested environment?
After all, when Donald complaint of becoming of ill when he was in certain police building; but found relief when he was out of those environment, it was recommended that Donald be evaluated for psychiatric abnormalities.
3. Could it be, that PC Donald body was giving him early warnings of an environment that was unhealthy for him; unfortunately no one took Donald seriously, not even the medical professional took this young husband seriously?
4. Could it be that the sudden diagnosis of Kidney failure in PC Julie is as a results prolong exposure to the mold infested environment (after all she worked at the Hamilton for quite a while) where she assigned?
5. What could have cause, the unexplained and sudden discovery of an aneurysm PCs Francis, one of my colleagues who had gone through a battery of medical testes just a few months earlier and was given a clean bill of health by his family medical practitioner and by the police doctor after a thorough review of his medical records to ensure that this young man was fit to come to Bermuda? Could it be his life threatening illness was as a result of a prolong exposure to a mold and mold spores environment?
6. Could it be, that the unexplained and prolong illness of PCs Raynor, Nurse and Smith, be as a results of the prolong exposure to the same unhealthy environment?
7. Could it also be, that the sudden and unexplained diagnosis of blood clod in both lungs of Wayne, be as a direct result of prolong exposure to the same unhealthy condition that all the others were and are exposed to? Although this could also be as a result of deep vain thrombosis; which I doubt.
For those of you who know PC Wayne as I do, PC Wayne is a fitness freak (jokingly speaking). However putting jokes aside, PC Wayne took his health seriously, he worked-out on a regular basis and he is careful with what he eat. After visiting with PC Wayne (who was thankful for being alive) he explained the whole unfortunate episode to me, which included the symptoms he was experiencing. P C Wayne’s symptoms were consistent to the symptoms that are associated with “Invasive and Chronic Pulmonary Asporgillosis” which are: slight fever, chest pain, coughing, tiredness and the excretion of mucus mixed with blood. Very often an excretion of mucus mixed with blood is a sign that there is blood present in the lungs; and anywhere in the body there is a presence of blood there can be clotting.
8. Could it also be that the unexplained diagnosis of PCs Darrell and Yard’s who had to be air lifted out of Bermuda with a brain aneurysm, the unexplained and sudden heart attack of PC Ryan and the many more personnel who are suffering from unexplained medical complication was and is as a result of prolong and or periodic exposure to the unhealthy concentration of mould and mold spores infested environment the Government of Bermuda and the Bermuda Police Service requires that all police officers work in?
9. Could it be that the two occasions when Allan Palmer experienced the sudden inability to breathe during circuit training one severest bout that occurred while running the BPS training school steps (this was witnessed by Peter Clark who expressed concern) was also as a result of working for almost three years in contaminated environment?
10. Why did the BWC technicians felt the need to conduct follow up study on the 14th December 2006 on the 4th floor which houses the CID offices?
11. Why the BWC technician didn’t see the need to conduct follow up tests on the other floors and areas of the Hamilton Police Station.
12. Was there a post mortem done on Paul Marsden, Andrew Wooldridge and Timothy Herbert?
13. Did the pathologist order toxicology reports for these men?
A. If no, why not?
B. if yes, what was the results of that report?
C. was the total findings handed over to the family of these men?
D. can the BPA access these reports?
I have a sneaking suspicion that the report that was made available to the public was an altered copy; for one thing, the pages are not numbered.
This lead me to ask the powers that be this question, why didn’t you all see it fit to give public access to the finding of the study, which was conducted on the 7th of November 2006 on the 4th floor of the Hamilton Police Station which is located at 42 Parliament Street, Pembroke and which houses the Criminal Investigation Department?
Carl Neblett, I implore you to leave the fighting of the Government to your lawyers, there are more pressing and urgent matters for you and your association to be addressing, matters that needs your attention forthwith. These are far too many unanswered questions. I am recommending that you get in touched with each person whose name is mentioned in this article, including PC Emerson Donald, his lawyers Wakefield-Quin and Jack Thrasher, PhD (toxicologist). It is in the best interest off all involved that the members of the Bermuda Police Association is alive and in good Health to enjoy the hefty 7% retroactive back pay that is coming to them and the increase in salaries.
It is very important that you move quickly before the Government demolishes the building or the on going renovations completely rectifies the problem thus eliminating all possibility of ever recovering the evidence that can strengthen any case you and your BPA will be bringing on behalf of your members.
This study was ordered by the office of the commissioner of police, so it is fair to conclude that The Commissioner of Police knew of the findings of this report. It will also be fair to say that base on the potentially lethal finding of the study; the commissioner of police has an obligation to report his finding to the governor and to the government of Bermuda. if this is true why is it that the Commissioner of Police and the Government of Bermuda still have the members of the Bermuda Police Service still working in the death trap that is the Hamilton Police Station. It is important to note that if any person dies as a result of complication cause by working in such environment then all involved should be charged for Acceleration of Death under section 282 of the criminal code.
282 A person who does any act or makes any omission which hastens the death of another person who, when the act is done or the omission is made, is laboring under some disorder, injury or disease arising from another cause; is deemed to have killed that other person.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the family of Paul Marsden, Timothy Herbert and Andrew Wooldridge has a wrongful death civil or a similar case against the Bermuda Police Service and the Government of Bermuda.
What is unfortunate is that two years after such a deadly revelation was made known to the commissioner of police the BPA and The Government of Bermuda officers are still forced to function in this tremendously unhealthy environment. The Government of Bermuda is asking the men and women of the Bermuda Police Service to risk death and terminal illness while they perform their duties.
This is a most idiotic request and it is only idiots who are going to follow such a request. When it was discovered that the Cedar Bridge School was infested with mold; the Government without delay evacuated and relocated the entire school population. Why are the members of the Bermuda Police Service are are still operating in this unhealthy mold infested environment?
Study by: Allan H. F. Palmer
According to the executive summary of the May 2003 study which was conducted by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constables (HMIC) Mr. David Blakey, which states in paragraph 12 “Whilst officers have been given quite a range of safety equipment for use on patrol, they are less safe in the building that they work in, some of which are in contravention of the Health and Safety Code. HMCI personal observation revealed not only was the building unsuitable and unsafe to work in and to take prisoners to, they were also in stark contrast to other government buildings in Bermuda.”
In recommendation 9, HMIC recommended that the government of Bermuda examine its capital work projects to see if they can allocate funds to refurbish and or rebuild the police premises. HMIC saw this issue as a serious problem that needed urgent attention to ensure the safety and welfare of all police, prisoners, and members of the public who visits and work in police premises.
The foresight and insight of HMIC was tremendous. I am convinced that outgoing governor His Excellency Sir, John Vereka and out going Commissioner of Police Jonathan Smith knew of the reputation and trust the judgment of HMIC hence the reason they commissioned HMIC to conduct this study. Yet no one paid attention to the findings of in Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constable study.
I also managed to access a November 2006, air quality assessment study that was conducted by Bermuda Water Consultant ltd. (BWC) on the Hamilton Police Station. The revelation that is contained in this study is terrifying.
This study revealed that the ground floor of the Hamilton Police Station has a concentration of Mould and mould spores that is in excess of 29 times of the acceptable level. What was unfortunate however, is the fact that the report did not show the specific findings of the test that was conducted on the forth floor of the Hamilton Police Station in November 2006. This part of the Hamilton Police Station is where the is Criminal Investigation Department is housed and it is believed, that this section of the building has the highest concentration of mold and mould spores than any other section in the entire building, so much so that the concentration of mould and their spores in this area, adversely affect the air quality to the extent that the air is a tainted in that it transforms the air quality to a musty odor that permeate throughout entire vicinity.
According to the report there are seven different species of mould that inhabits the Hamilton Police Station which includes:
1. The Aspergillus is considered to be the most potent of the group; this mold produces among others, a toxin that is called Ochratoxin A, which is a key element in Kidney failure. This mold is also responsible for causing invasive and chronic pulmonary Asporgillosis which can lead to sudden and unexplained (if you do not know what to look for) death if allow to go undiagnosed.
2. Basidiospores
3. Ascospores
4. sercospora
5. caldosportum
6. curvularia
7. Smuits / Myxomycetes / periconia
Unfortunately there is not enough scientific study done on, or that is available to me on the other molds that will allow me to justify or match some of the other symptoms I have been hearing of.
I am therefore seeking answer for the following questions.
1. Could it be that the unexplained and sudden death of Timothy Herbert, Paul Marsden and Andrew Wooldridge (all healthy men, Marsden and Wooldridge were avid sports men) were as a results of a build up of toxin in their bodies which was resulted from prolong exposure to the mould infested police environment?
2. Could it be, that the sudden and unexplained diagnosis of severe kidney failure that was discovered in Emerson Donald, (who the medical professional predicted will have to be on dialysis in the next few years) was resulted from the prolong or periodic (some people has a disposition to become vulnerable to a toxin) exposure to mold and mold spores infested environment?
After all, when Donald complaint of becoming of ill when he was in certain police building; but found relief when he was out of those environment, it was recommended that Donald be evaluated for psychiatric abnormalities.
3. Could it be, that PC Donald body was giving him early warnings of an environment that was unhealthy for him; unfortunately no one took Donald seriously, not even the medical professional took this young husband seriously?
4. Could it be that the sudden diagnosis of Kidney failure in PC Julie is as a results prolong exposure to the mold infested environment (after all she worked at the Hamilton for quite a while) where she assigned?
5. What could have cause, the unexplained and sudden discovery of an aneurysm PCs Francis, one of my colleagues who had gone through a battery of medical testes just a few months earlier and was given a clean bill of health by his family medical practitioner and by the police doctor after a thorough review of his medical records to ensure that this young man was fit to come to Bermuda? Could it be his life threatening illness was as a result of a prolong exposure to a mold and mold spores environment?
6. Could it be, that the unexplained and prolong illness of PCs Raynor, Nurse and Smith, be as a results of the prolong exposure to the same unhealthy environment?
7. Could it also be, that the sudden and unexplained diagnosis of blood clod in both lungs of Wayne, be as a direct result of prolong exposure to the same unhealthy condition that all the others were and are exposed to? Although this could also be as a result of deep vain thrombosis; which I doubt.
For those of you who know PC Wayne as I do, PC Wayne is a fitness freak (jokingly speaking). However putting jokes aside, PC Wayne took his health seriously, he worked-out on a regular basis and he is careful with what he eat. After visiting with PC Wayne (who was thankful for being alive) he explained the whole unfortunate episode to me, which included the symptoms he was experiencing. P C Wayne’s symptoms were consistent to the symptoms that are associated with “Invasive and Chronic Pulmonary Asporgillosis” which are: slight fever, chest pain, coughing, tiredness and the excretion of mucus mixed with blood. Very often an excretion of mucus mixed with blood is a sign that there is blood present in the lungs; and anywhere in the body there is a presence of blood there can be clotting.
8. Could it also be that the unexplained diagnosis of PCs Darrell and Yard’s who had to be air lifted out of Bermuda with a brain aneurysm, the unexplained and sudden heart attack of PC Ryan and the many more personnel who are suffering from unexplained medical complication was and is as a result of prolong and or periodic exposure to the unhealthy concentration of mould and mold spores infested environment the Government of Bermuda and the Bermuda Police Service requires that all police officers work in?
9. Could it be that the two occasions when Allan Palmer experienced the sudden inability to breathe during circuit training one severest bout that occurred while running the BPS training school steps (this was witnessed by Peter Clark who expressed concern) was also as a result of working for almost three years in contaminated environment?
10. Why did the BWC technicians felt the need to conduct follow up study on the 14th December 2006 on the 4th floor which houses the CID offices?
11. Why the BWC technician didn’t see the need to conduct follow up tests on the other floors and areas of the Hamilton Police Station.
12. Was there a post mortem done on Paul Marsden, Andrew Wooldridge and Timothy Herbert?
13. Did the pathologist order toxicology reports for these men?
A. If no, why not?
B. if yes, what was the results of that report?
C. was the total findings handed over to the family of these men?
D. can the BPA access these reports?
I have a sneaking suspicion that the report that was made available to the public was an altered copy; for one thing, the pages are not numbered.
This lead me to ask the powers that be this question, why didn’t you all see it fit to give public access to the finding of the study, which was conducted on the 7th of November 2006 on the 4th floor of the Hamilton Police Station which is located at 42 Parliament Street, Pembroke and which houses the Criminal Investigation Department?
Carl Neblett, I implore you to leave the fighting of the Government to your lawyers, there are more pressing and urgent matters for you and your association to be addressing, matters that needs your attention forthwith. These are far too many unanswered questions. I am recommending that you get in touched with each person whose name is mentioned in this article, including PC Emerson Donald, his lawyers Wakefield-Quin and Jack Thrasher, PhD (toxicologist). It is in the best interest off all involved that the members of the Bermuda Police Association is alive and in good Health to enjoy the hefty 7% retroactive back pay that is coming to them and the increase in salaries.
It is very important that you move quickly before the Government demolishes the building or the on going renovations completely rectifies the problem thus eliminating all possibility of ever recovering the evidence that can strengthen any case you and your BPA will be bringing on behalf of your members.
This study was ordered by the office of the commissioner of police, so it is fair to conclude that The Commissioner of Police knew of the findings of this report. It will also be fair to say that base on the potentially lethal finding of the study; the commissioner of police has an obligation to report his finding to the governor and to the government of Bermuda. if this is true why is it that the Commissioner of Police and the Government of Bermuda still have the members of the Bermuda Police Service still working in the death trap that is the Hamilton Police Station. It is important to note that if any person dies as a result of complication cause by working in such environment then all involved should be charged for Acceleration of Death under section 282 of the criminal code.
282 A person who does any act or makes any omission which hastens the death of another person who, when the act is done or the omission is made, is laboring under some disorder, injury or disease arising from another cause; is deemed to have killed that other person.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the family of Paul Marsden, Timothy Herbert and Andrew Wooldridge has a wrongful death civil or a similar case against the Bermuda Police Service and the Government of Bermuda.
What is unfortunate is that two years after such a deadly revelation was made known to the commissioner of police the BPA and The Government of Bermuda officers are still forced to function in this tremendously unhealthy environment. The Government of Bermuda is asking the men and women of the Bermuda Police Service to risk death and terminal illness while they perform their duties.
This is a most idiotic request and it is only idiots who are going to follow such a request. When it was discovered that the Cedar Bridge School was infested with mold; the Government without delay evacuated and relocated the entire school population. Why are the members of the Bermuda Police Service are are still operating in this unhealthy mold infested environment?
Study by: Allan H. F. Palmer
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