Stills from the video featuring the two officers.
By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Chief Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE two officers caught drinking on video while riding in a police squad car were demoted, according to an order obtained by The Tribune yesterday.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force order was signed by Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade on August 22, and said to have taken effect the same day.
One officer, a corporal, was demoted to the rank of constable while the other officer who held the rank of constable was also reduced in seniority. The demotions were confirmed by police in a press release yesterday.
The video in question went viral last month.
In the video, one officer is seen holding a bottle of Kalik while they appeared to ignore a call from the Police Control Room.
The officers were suspended and given 14 days to show cause letters.
In the video, the officers appeared to ride without seatbelts on and they ignored a call from the control room because as one said, they were “(expletive) getting drunk.”
The video appeared to be recorded by the driver on his cellphone who said in the expletive laden recording: “Don’t send this video out you know.”
It was viewed and shared thousands of times on Facebook, prompting widespread condemnation and calls for the men to be fired.
Key details, such as when the video was recorded, were still not known up to press time.
Shortly after the video surfaced in July, Minister of National Security Marvin Dames described it as “disgusting,” and not what anyone should expect from police officers.
“We need our law enforcement officers, and I can continue to say this, to be upright, to be role models, to be respectable, to come with the highest level of integrity,” Mr Dames told The Nassau Guardian last month.
“These are the expectations which are not very low. I make no apologies about it, we are seeking to clean up our law enforcement agencies and the good, hard-working, decent officers in the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Defense Force, corrections department and other areas, expect that. They don’t want to be impacted by the few bad apples. They don’t want the perception to be ‘oh they are all that way.’ So we have our work cut out for us,” Mr Dames had said.
Comments
John 7 years, 4 months ago
It was a fair punishment. The policeman get to keep their jobs after being demoted and the commissioner gets to show that he believes in second chances.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 4 months ago
You would give Christie a second chance if you could!
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 4 months ago
Yep what I thought should happen from the start, they didn't do anything criminal, just stupid. I'm sure they won't do it again.
bahamas12345 7 years, 4 months ago
Fair punishment my ASS. If that is somewhat acceptable then the next thing you know we will have everyone in the civil service drinking and driving and not abiding by the law at all.
John 7 years, 4 months ago
Well, police (police?) officers in The US are still on their jobs after video tapes show them involved in unjustifiable killings sometimes of innocent motorists. WTH!
alfalfa 7 years, 4 months ago
I agree bahamas12345. These people are charged with our protection, as well as the responsibility for capturing felons, all while being outfitted with firearms. A drunk policeman with a gun is as dangerous as any gun toting thug on the streets. They would be up on charges in most countries, and certainly fired from their jobs. (What about driven under the influence)? That alone should land them in court.
alfalfa 7 years, 4 months ago
My bad. Driving under the influence.
John 7 years, 4 months ago
ALFALFA....driving under the influence? Did anyone do a breathalyzer test or otherwise measure their blood:alcohol level? Most countries no longer have the "driving under the influence" charge. It is now "Driving while intoxicated" (DWI) where the blood/alcohol level has to be proven. Besides only one police was driving so your argument is weak.
infoseeker 7 years, 4 months ago
Actually DUI is still a charge in most countries, it is just not related to alcohol, which is DWI. Driving under the influence (DUI) is related to all drugs and narcotics, while DWI speaks to alcohol only.
infoseeker 7 years, 4 months ago
Additionally, the fact that they have an open bottle in the car alone is grounds for termination. They should know better, we are not talking about children, these are grown men who should know the consequences of this type of action. No excuses, point blank they should have been fired and learn from their mistakes for the NEXT job they get.
Well_mudda_take_sic 7 years, 4 months ago
You really should stop praying the PLP will once again become relevant.
DDK 7 years, 4 months ago
I believe the report said "THEY were getting drunk".
bahamas12345 7 years, 4 months ago
The fact that the people who are to enforce the laws of the country were consuming alcohol while on duty doesn't constitute a breathalyzer or a blood alcohol reading. So your comment is weak Its just a disgrace
rawbahamian 7 years, 4 months ago
Drinking while driving and without wearing a seatbelt is against the law as well as being stupid and these combined actions are a clear display of their mentality and I am certain that if they caught one of us doing the same, we will be given an appointment to stand before a judge to defend ourselves therefore it is a crime !!!
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 4 months ago
Yes it's against the law, but no one throws you in prison for drinking while driving, you get a fine, your license may be suspended, you may have to go to some AA sessions, the punishment fits the crime. There's no need to persecute the officers, what they did was stupid, they won't do it again, if they do they're fired.
I think sometimes we want to bring the hammer down on everyone else but expect mercy if we foul up. And all of us foul up at some point.
licks2 7 years, 4 months ago
I think their punishment was in good order. . .their dumbness was non-violent. . .they got the message. . .
gbgal 7 years, 4 months ago
So this is the type of character we find acceptable to respect as a responsible policeman? In my view they should have been dismissed!
ThisIsOurs 7 years, 4 months ago
I wouldn't have had a problem if they were dismissed. But they were given a second chance and I'm ok with that. Sometimes you need to hit the brick wall before you see how far you've deviated from the path.
TalRussell 7 years, 4 months ago
Comrades! If this is the way Commish Greenslade does really thinks - The Royal Bahamaland Policeman's Force order should have also been accompanied by Police Commish Greenslade's resignation - also signed on August 22,2017, and said to have taken effect the same day.
DEDDIE 7 years, 4 months ago
They should have been fired. I am surprise anyone would want the bar that low when it comes to law enforcement officers. Our country is going to the dogs because we are so tolerant of mediocrity. I am a business owner and if I catch anyone on the job drinking, I will fire them.
TalRussell 7 years, 4 months ago
Comrade Deddie,The Queen should order that Her Excellency Dame Marguerite, sign Royal Instruments of Appointments - assigning the two policeman's to become Commish Greenslade's official Chauffeur and Bodyguard. Comrade Deddie, would you want these two unfits for public duty on call sitting in their policeman's car to be responding to your emergency call for emergency policeman's assistance? { You just cannot make this lacks all credibility craziness up }.
John 7 years, 4 months ago
I had an officer pull me over in Florida who was so drunk he couldn't stand without leaning on my car. When i produced my Bahamian driver's licence on his request, he threw it back at me saying, "you can't drive with that sh!t over here." He then called in my plates and asked the dispatcher about my licence. Then after she told him it was OK to drive with it in Florida or anywhere in the US, he apologized and said, ,"They just transferred my down here from Jacksonville and I really don't know what the F#@k is going on." Then he said have a nice day and staggered back to his cruiser.
DDK 7 years, 4 months ago
One wonders if there exists a set of rules and regulations for police officers. If there is not there certainly should be. The results of such behaviour would not be open for debate.
alfalfa 7 years, 4 months ago
So John, you condone the actions of these officers, and feel the penalty given them was just? Just wondering. Drinking and driving is still illegal, and drinking and driving by police officers on duty, on patrol, and armed with deadly weapons, is dangerous. At least in my view. Did you report your incident in Fla. to the authorities, or because your antagonist did not have a breathalyzer test done on him, you only assumed he was drunk. My point is that law officers are supposed to carry themselves at a higher standard than that exhibited by these two, so as to earn the confidence and support of the public they are supposed to serve.
Greentea 7 years, 4 months ago
Here! Here! Alfalfa. Couldn't agree more.
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