The Tribune

By Khrisna Russell

Deputy Chief Reporter

krussell@tribunemedia.net

POLICE Commissioner Anthony Ferguson has defended the officers involved in an operation more than a week ago that resulted in police fatally shooting three men inside a Blair home, calling them “very responsible”.

Asked if he was confident the proper procedure was followed, Commissioner Ferguson said: “Let me say the officers who were on that operation were very responsible and very experienced officers. That is as much as I will say in respect to that.”

The police chief said his force has nothing to hide when he was asked about how utilising body cameras may come into play when there are differing accounts in such events.

This was the first time he has addressed the controversial incident, as he was previously out of the country.

Early on Friday, May 17, police stormed a large home at Newgate and Commonwealth Roads in the execution of a search warrant. In the end Jamaal Penn, Valentino Pratt and Trevor Cooper, whom relatives claimed were unarmed, were shot to death. 

Police have said the suspects opened fire on officers, who returned gunfire. However relatives gave The Tribune a differing account and claimed police ambushed the men.

Following the incident, police said they found a few guns and 22lbs of marijuana on the property.

Relatives have also raised concern that police carried out the raid on the home with a number of children inside the building.

The incident has led to calls for an independent body to investigate all police involved killings. Among them are Progressive Liberal Party Leader Philip “Brave” Davis who last week said it was time for police to stop investigating themselves.

“That is not within the leadership of the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s domain,” Commissioner Ferguson said yesterday. “We don’t create laws, we follow the laws and that’s as (much) as I will say on that.”

The Tribune also asked him about protocols that come into play when children are in the presence of police targets.

“I haven’t heard it you know. I just came back into the country on the weekend and so I can’t respond to something I haven’t heard. I would really have to research it and see what the comments are.

“I’m not going to respond to something I haven’t seen. It would be wrong for me to try to do that.

“I don’t know what the family said and I’m not going to try to speak to what they say. (We) always have to remember that the police department is the legitimate law enforcement agency and until I am able to fully understand what is being said then I will be able to analyse all of the pros and cons but I cannot speak to anything that anybody would have said. It’s a disadvantage for me to try to speak to something I have not seen or heard,” the commissioner also said.

Body cameras

The incident again highlighted the need for officers to be outfitted with body cameras.

According to National Security Minister Marvin Dames yesterday, the body cameras cost the government just over $694,000. He previously told this newspaper that in the first instance 200 officers would receive the cameras.

He said the equipment would provide accurate documentation of police-public interaction and safeguard officers from undue criticism from the general public, false accusations and reduce leave time when investigations into their conduct is questioned.

The footage will also be used for evaluation and training of officers within the organisation, he said. Further, the body-worn cameras will also protect members of the general public from officers who do not uphold the tenets of courage, integrity and loyalty.

He was unable to reveal the chosen vendor, but said it was considered a leading United States company.

Mr Dames said at some point this summer officers would begin using them. However this was completely dependent on the finalisation of the contract with the vendor, he told reporters.

In this regard the commissioner said: “The police department has nothing to hide and a body cam will only enhance what you do. So there is always this issue of transparency and we welcome things like that.”

However, he would not say whether footage obtained by body cameras would be made public.

“I’m not going to comment. I think you’re jumping too fast because there are policies that will be created. These things are subject to judicial review and you don’t want to be talking out of turn.”

He spoke to the issue following the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Federation of Police Welfare Association’s 8th annual conference at SuperClubs Breezes. Representatives from several Caribbean countries in the region are attending the conference this week to discuss matters related to police welfare associations.

The Police Staff Association is hosting the event.