By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FOUR police officers have been put on administrative leave after a drug suspect was allowed to get married while in custody at Central Police Station.
The officers face internal charges and possible dismissal, according to Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade, who condemned the “dastardly” incident at a press conference yesterday.
“It breached force policies and procedure,” Commissioner Greenslade told the press. “No one in their right mind anywhere on the planet would recognise that there could be any semblance of order to having a person incarcerated, whose liberties by law properly have been taken from them, to be taken out of a police force cell and be allowed to consummate some marriage ceremony in a police station. That is a disgrace to the Bahamas, to the Royal Bahamas Police Force, and everything good and decent that we stand for.”
He added: “It’s out of order, it should not have happened.”
Commissioner Greenslade confirmed that the suspect, Kendrick Tinker, was arrested on Friday in connection with the seizure of 50 pounds of marijuana.
Tinker, 35, was charged in Magistrate’s Court with possession of forged currency; possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply; and conspiracy to possess dangerous drugs with intent to supply. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
At the press conference yesterday, Commissioner Greenslade explained that the officer in charge of the station was not complicit in what took place, adding that the station’s Assistant Superintendent, Corporal, and two Constables were under investigation.
Mr Greenslade did not confirm how many people were allowed into the station, or witnessed the ceremony.
“This matter,” he said, “is now being fully investigated and charges will be brought. People were in the station who should not have been in the station and what happened should not have happened.
“I want the public to know that as Commissioner I firmly love the people of this Bahamas, I love this Police Force and our people, and I’m going to do nothing while I’m in this position as Commissioner of Police to sully the good name and reputation of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.
“This Commissioner is totally embarrassed by what took place. This should have never happened, and I’m still trying to come to terms with that.”
Comments
JohnDoes 10 years, 7 months ago
Any breach of policy and procedure should be automatic dismissal. This is outrageous. We dont only want to see constables being terminated, We also want to see the responsible Inspectors and Superintendents dealt with accordingly as well, they are the main slackers telling the constables what to do anyway.
dada 10 years, 7 months ago
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TalRussell 10 years, 7 months ago
We have one every right be pretty damn angry Commish of Policeman's retaking control of the policeman's station. C'mon reporter who in hell was it that proposed the official toast to the bride and groom? Comrade Tribune reporter just you cut to the chase about the wedding at the Central Policeman's Station, cause all your readers wants really know is the really juicy news like; "are there any wedding photographs and if so who's pictured in them and was the wedding reception an catered affair, and that it wasn't the station’s Assistant Superintendent of the policeman's or one his policeman’s who proposed the toast to the bride and “under arrest” groom? That there were no wedding guests stumbling out Central Policeman's Station, with champagne glasses in hand?
Comrades try as you may, this story is much too deep for even the most creative Tribune reporter to make up out the head.
Reality_Check 10 years, 7 months ago
Dis commish don'na look like he too discipline or workin too hard! He muss'y like dat same chick'in shack as dat lady in da house a'ssembly. He really need lead'em by example!
henny 10 years, 7 months ago
Commissioner Greenslade, I admire you for what you are doing. I agree with you that this "jailhouse wedding" should not have happened and it is an embarrassment. Those who allowed it should be reprimanded to the fullest.
ohdrap4 10 years, 7 months ago
i thought it was hilarius, they should make a "jailhouse wedding " song.
Frosty 10 years, 7 months ago
Only thing Greenslade can be mad at was the fact that it took place without the officer with the highest rank of that station giving it the greenlight thus breaking protocols. That's it, this type of thing can and does happen everywhere else in the world after being granted, again by the highest ranking officer, permission.
"and I’m going to do nothing while I’m in this position as Commissioner of Police to sully the good name and reputation of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. " yeah sorry not going to believe this, more crooked cops on your force than you care to admit.
John 10 years, 7 months ago
What was the big rush to get married anyway? If the suspect pleaded guilty chances are he would receive bail. If he was remanded it would be more appropriate to get married in prison then the police station, where once given permission, the suspect and his wedding guests could be isolated from the general prison population.
Marriage or Prison A woman woke in the middle of the night to find her husband missing from their bed. In the stillness of the house, she could hear a muffled sound downstairs. She went downstairs and looked around, still not finding her husband.
Listening again, she could definitely hear moaning. She went down to the basement where she finally found her husband crouched in the corner facing the wall, sobbing.
"What's wrong with you?" she asked him.
"Remember when your father caught us having sex when you were sixteen?" he replied. "And remember he said I had two choices: I could either marry you, or spend the next twenty years in prison."
Baffled, she said, "Yes, I remember, so what?"
The husband sobbed, "I would have gotten out today."
Guy 10 years, 7 months ago
Hilarious one John!
carlh57 10 years, 7 months ago
another example of the police, politicians, etc not knowing what goes on under them and not having control of people that report to them...everyone doing their own thing.....
arussell 10 years, 7 months ago
I agree with the commissioner but on the other hand police officer are under paid and that is why we have so much corruption going on in the force, everyday these officer put their lives at risk and dont make enough money. I bet the officer in charge was paid and the pastor too!! smh
sheeprunner12 10 years, 7 months ago
only BEC workers make more money on average than police officers ............. based on 6 months training qualifications. Heck, they make more than teachers, nurses etc
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 7 months ago
Poor training. Poor reinforcement, the officers probably had no idea that what they did was a breech of policy. Speaks to the larger problem in the country, rationalization of law and order. Owe thousands in taxes? Give then a job to oversee tax collection. Accused of taking bribes while on the public purse? Give them a job overseeing the public purse. Everyone has hard times, give them a chance. Sunday no traffic? Run the red light. Phone cards to sell? Show up anywhere and block traffiic. Rationalization of law and order. So bad young people don't even know what order is.
sheeprunner12 10 years, 7 months ago
ThisisOurs, u are right. To make it even worse, most police officers are not even character worthy to be law enforcement officers. Heck, 2000 of them live in Nassau neighbourhoods, where crime is rampant. That should tell all of us something about their quality. If a policeman lives next door to a numbers house, whorehouse, drughouse etc and dont report it............ what you think that says about them???????????????? For most of them its a JOB.
digimagination 10 years, 7 months ago
Sadly, a large number of police, immigration, customs and defense force officers come from the lower not-too-well educated strata of society - so what do you expect from or of them... a sense of decorum, good manners and ethics? After all it's just a job and as long as they get their paycheck anything goes. Good luck.
Reality_Check 10 years, 7 months ago
This story would have never made the newspapers had the commish received a bigger slice of the wedding cake!
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