The Tribune

By KIRKLAND PRATT

According to a recent Amnesty International study, there are thousands of reports each year of assault and ill treatment against officers who use excessive force and violate the human rights of their victims (AIUSA Rights 1999). Police officers are injuring and even killing people through the use of excessive force and brutal treatment (Geller, 1996).

Locally, the mounting dissent against police brutality has become loud with direct appeals from a concerned society, impacted families, local and international human rights groups and the religious community. All of these groups advocate for an audit of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and a more rigid vetting process for new recruits. In January of this year, Police Commissioner Elliston Greenslade announced that there had been 128 complaints of assault in 2012, enough to prompt investigation.

Notwithstanding the collective disgust of society against the intolerable level of crime in New Providence, no healthy civilian once placed under arrest should be entrusted into police custody only to be wheeled out of custody as a corpse a few hours later.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force has a guiding philosophy statement: “To fulfill our mandate for policing The Commonwealth of the Bahamas, in partnership with all citizens, residents, and visitors, by serving them with Care, Respect, and Trust”.

Certainly every Bahamian should feel assured as the people who we depend on to protect us do just that. In no way am I advocating for softening on criminals but, I am conscious that we exist in a sovereign democracy which we are held accountable to uphold.

I am left to ponder: How does the upper echelon of the police force psychologically prepare recruits and officers for the rigid and taxing duties that they must experience on a daily basis? Is there a full time psychologist attached to the force? What ongoing programmes are implemented for psychological support, social ethics orientation, ongoing police sensitivity and emotional intelligence training?

After it was revealed that 35-year-old Jamie Smith died in police custody of asphyxia several weeks ago, National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage was quoted as saying: “No one has the right to take any action that results in the loss of life and wherever there is loss of life people will be investigated and wherever the investigation takes us, we will have to go.”

Yet a few weeks later Dr Nottage was quoted as telling the Tribune newspaper that discussion over how suspects are to be treated while in custody “ought not be necessary” as police already know what correct procedure is. This is assuming that the aforesaid is adhered to and even respected within the demographic of tainted policemen under his guard. It would behoove the good minister to deploy all resourced psychological expertise necessary to ensure that this tainted culture element is removed from an otherwise functional police force.

Psychological interventions to build resilience among law enforcement personnel and their family members should be available to them. Police psychologists offer numerous services to prepare law enforcement employees to better deal with the stress of their jobs, to make healthy adjustments when confronted with difficult situations, and to affect the culture of policing by likening therapy to going to a family physician or dentist. Moreover, police psychologists have a working knowledge and sensitivity of law enforcement organisational dynamics and police culture.

External stress such as recession-influenced budgets, low morale, strained family dynamics, increased hours, a strengthened criminal element, and minimal risk pay add to the pressure of these offending officers who have no regard for the sacredness of all life. All who protect and serve at all levels stand to benefit from therapeutic sensitisation.

Keep thinking though, you are good for it.

• Kirkland H. Pratt, MSCP, is a Counselling Psychologist with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology with an emphasis in Education. He lectures in Industrial Psychology and offers counselling and related services to individuals and businesses. For comments, contact kirklandpratt@gmail.com.