Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
POLICE Commissioner Ellison Greenslade yesterday stood by recent comments that he did all within his power to ensure that last year’s controversial jailhouse wedding resulted in disciplinary action for the officer responsible.
His comments came days after National Security Minister Dr Bernard Nottage distanced himself from comments Mr Greenslade made during a recent press conference when he suggested his hands were tied with respect to the matter.
On March 7, 2014, Kendrick Tinder was arrested in connection with the seizure of 50 pounds of marijuana. The next day he was allowed to marry his fiancée at the Central Police Station after his family was unable to have him released on bail.
On Tuesday, Mr Greenslade said he remains distressed by the matter, adding that if he had the “authority to dispense justice” in the situation he would’ve done so already.
Asked to respond to the commissioner’s comments, Dr Nottage said: “I have no take on it. I heard what he said. As far as I’m aware, the Royal Bahamas Police Force has disciplinary procedures and has a disciplinary process that does not involve civilian authority, and certainly does not involve me, so you’d have to get further clarification from the commissioner.”
Responding yesterday, Mr Greenslade encouraged the public to review the Police Force Act to understand the procedure as it relates to disciplining police officers.
He said: “I’m not going to say anything to be disrespectful to the minister and nor to cause the public to perceive that I’m being disrespectful. What I will say, though, is I will always stand on my credibility, which is a good, decent Bahamian citizen.”
“Secondly as a person who has risen to become commissioner of police on merit and credit, our motto is courage, integrity and loyalty. I deliver everyday to our people a mantra of care, respect and trust; those are very important ingredients. I’d like to invite the public and all of you to consider that legislation on the books in the Bahamas are very, very clear and if you were to pick up which is referred to as the Police Force Act, if you were to read it and look at the ancillary legislation that would pertain then any well meaning citizen who cared to pay attention would note that the way we deal with a constable, that is a contracted officer with no rank, falls firmly within the purview of the commissioner and the way we deal with officers that wear a brown uniform or a khaki uniform is a different procedure.”
In fact, the Police Force Act says disciplinary decisions against officers on or above the rank of an inspector could only be made by the Governor-General on the advice of the Police Services Commission, of which the commissioner is not a part.
Mr Greenslade also said: “There was no hesitation on my part when the matter was reported to me. I was quick to make a public pronouncement as to how I felt about it and that it shouldn’t have happened and I directed swift action. A file was prepared, all the necessary papers were prepared and we followed all the procedures that should have been followed. And again I am going to stop right there, not to offer any other comment that would cause disrespect or that would give the impression of disrespect.”
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 10 months ago
Mr. Greenslade still has not come clean with the Bahamian people on this matter and, until he does, there are many of us rightfully questioning his apparent failure to ensure a fellow brown suit officer was made subject to an appropriate disciplinary proceeding. We all know that the Governor-General is nothing but a grossly compensated figure head in our current system of government, and now (with the appointment of Mrs. Poodling) an especially undeserving one at that! Just forthrightly tell us Mr. Greenslade the names of all those individuals at the Police Services Commission and/or Public Services Commission whom you claim have failed to respect you and your position of authority by ignoring the file and papers you prepared to document your complaint about the conduct of a fellow brown suit officer. Mr. Greenslade, please stop playing games with us like the politicians do. Just think how we, the Bahamian public, not to mention the entire police force, feel about your position and authority when we hear you say that you have done your job and can do no more in a matter such as this one. Get off of your duff Mr. Greenslade and do something that will help inspire all of us to have confidence and respect in the privileged post of authority you hold in our society. If you consider yourself truly unable or incapable of pressing this matter to a conclusion that will help keep the public confidence in your position as Chief Commissioner of Police, then you should resign. As for B J Nottage, the Bahamian public and the voters in his constituency now expect little if anything from him as a dead beat old tired hack of a politician.
duppyVAT 9 years, 10 months ago
This is ONE time that the COP has explicitly cleared himself ......... BJ should be ashamed of himself ..................... but can you expect anything else from BJ????????????
TalRussell 9 years, 10 months ago
Comrade Commish Policeman's, I along many appreciate and respect what you and your policeman's do everyday to protect citizens, residents and tourists. No policeman's are without flaws. But there comes a time when you should act and not talk. I think most would have preferred, had you fired the individual and have let others step in to block the firing. You should have forced the Minister, PM, Attorney General and Cabinet or some Judge, to undo your firing as da Commish. You still have the authority to fire. Do it Commsih cuz the people are with you.
chairarranger 9 years, 10 months ago
Just invoice Mr Tinder a fee for venue hire and the security that was provided for his nuptials.
TheMadHatter 9 years, 10 months ago
If what he says is true, then he should not have made the public comments that he has made. I like him a lot and believe he does excellent work everyday, but in this case whenever he was questioned on the matter by the media or anyone - he should have simply said "I must refer you to the Police Services Commission which has authority in this matter."
He should not even have said whether or not he disagreed with the wedding. Just REFER people to the legal authority.
TheMadHatter
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