National Security Minister Wayne Munroe and Leading Seaman Rodney Adderley.
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Senior Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
NATIONAL Security Minister Wayne Munroe said the leading seaman police killed on Monday had mental challenges that were known to the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and had been addressed by the agency.
Mr Munroe, who defended the decision not to publicly release body cam footage of the incident, said the video is consistent with officers’ description of what they say happened when they encountered Leading Seaman Rodney Adderley in Chippingham shortly before 4am.
“He had mental challenges that were addressed by the Defence Force,” Mr Munroe said.
“He may have been at that point mentally challenged, we don’t know, the inquest would tell, but I want to stress that the Defence Force did engage aggressively with his situation, did provide him help and support and if he was in fact suffering from mental issues that caused him to charge an armed policeman who was trying to holster his weapon, then that’s what it is, but if it is the case... I want to stress that that does not denigrate from the good service he gave his country and the Bahamian people must never forget that. Heroes are human as well.”
Mr Munroe confirmed that Adderley was not armed. Police officers’ lack of non-lethal weapons has been raised during Coroner’s Court inquests into killings before. However, Mr Munroe said he does not believe that is pertinent to the current case given the circumstances.
“The issues surround this, when you deal with specific incidents, I do not believe that a police officer going to a report of a suspicious vehicle that fits the description of what wanted persons use to do nefarious things and notorious killings, is going to leave his police car armed with a taser,” he said. “... I would have wholly expect the officer to leave the car armed with a handgun because we’ve had a number of murders, 119, not all of them of a particular character, but certainly too many of this character.
“The police need non-lethals more to protect themselves because I’ve learned surprisingly that a lot of policemen get beat up by members of the public and are injured so, in that regard, yes. But the public cannot expect policemen who receive information that indicates that they may be confronted with an armed person from the profile of what is happening in the country, to come out armed with a non-lethal weapon. That would put the police at a disadvantage and certainly it would not be something that I would be advocating.”
Mr Munroe urged people to come forward with footage of incidents, saying he does not have high regard for those who complain that they do not come forward because they fear for their lives.
“As I’ve said to members of the public that if they have security footage, if they have cell phone footage of any activity of the police, they are encouraged to provide it to the police who are investigating any matter because it will be objective evidence,” he said.
“All of that material gathered is sent on to the coroner and at the inquest which is a public hearing, open to the public, open to the press, it will be seen.”
Mr Munroe said people should have more trust and faith in the police.
“After a law enforcement officer discharges his duty or purported to do so, if he does so wrongly, the public has had demonstrated to it that the officers end up charged with homicide,” he said.
“There was a shooting in Exuma where the officer ended up charged with homicide so why the public would have any doubt about that is beyond me. It disrespects the police when you say to people, who you say they must put their lives on the line for you, that you’re not prepared to extend to them the same thing you extend to people who are charged with crimes before the court.
“The police will investigate. You give them all the material, if wrongdoing is found, regardless of who is the wrongdoer, they end up before the courts. And it’s about time that you have that respect. When I was on the other side, my job basically was to get material and when I got it I provided it in a circumstance like this to the police and if it’s cogent and persuasive it makes your point. Sometimes if you don’t have objective material then the job of the law is to cross-examine to put facts out, but we have to move from a circumstance where we do not extend to people who are charged with risking their lives to protect us the same standard that we extend to persons charged with crimes.”
Mr Munroe also spoke of speculation he heard about the incident.
“I heard all sorts of nonsense over the event. The report is there was a report of a suspicious male in a car in an area where we’ve been experiencing a lot of shootings and so one would think that the police would go with a view that you have the car, a car of the type that’s been used in a lot of shootings, mysteriously parked early in the morning so they must investigate. So, if it were one of you who were going to that scene after all that you have reported, mightn’t you think that something in there might be looking to kill somebody? It turned out not to be the case, but that is what will inform somebody when they’re putting their lives on the line early in the morning.”
Mr Munroe, explaining why the body camera footage will not be released to the public, said the people must learn to trust the police.
He said: “The main reason that you do not release it is you need to weed out people who will lie, who will give false statements to say they saw something that they did not see. I expect that people will find out that once they’ve committed their lie to a statement and they find themselves before the court. We need people to cooperate with the police in telling the truth and don’t give fiction.”
As for body cameras, he said there is a pressing need for more of them.
He said: “In meetings with the technical section of the ministry, we’ve been looking at expanding the acquisition of the body cams that we have and there’s a body cam too that was demoed for me that permits the commander to view the body cam footage live in the field. Now that is a bit more expensive than the body cam that just records, but it’s a resource matter so the officers with mobile patrol they are fitted with them. Ideally, as we expand the inventory we will fit more and more officers with them.”
Comments
John 2 years, 9 months ago
Is Wayne Munroe too quick to jump in front of cameras and discuss incidents that are under investigation? Keeping the public informed is one thing but some things are better left unsaid. Munroe says he was happy criminals will no longer be paraded in front of the public or in front of cameras on their way to court, but isn’t what he doing now more degrading. And even if the marine had mental issues and was shot and killed by police, this is not the first incident where a victim with mental issues were shot and killed by police. Even an incident where family members called police for assistance and appraised them of the situation. Does the police need to now be armed with less deadly weapons when dealing with these situations?
Dawes 2 years, 9 months ago
If you won't release the video, then don't say anything on the case until the coroners case. This is a disgrace to be saying these things publicly . Always makes me laugh that we would be in uproar if a case like this happened in the US and the police refused to release the video. Whilst down here we are told to accept it.
TalRussell 2 years, 9 months ago
Minister. you are too busy preempting an excuse that resulted in a killing by police and can't talk right about something you did not witness, so cut to de chase and forthwith, release de full unedited, untampered live action was Body Cam that captured in real time, like, explicitly, why was a gun drawn and was de now deceased, known to de policeman(s)?
Also, as a skilled lawyer, wouldn't you want know all details, like what incident occurred that turned it into a police incident that to armed police responding and everything else like this and that, ― Yes?
John 2 years, 9 months ago
Munroe needs to zip it up and stop being judge, bench and jury.
ted4bz 2 years, 9 months ago
TalRussell 2 years, 9 months ago
In 2018, lawyer Wayne Munroe QC, demanded to know, if de police officer involved in a shooting, has been involved in other police shootings and everything else disciplinary like this and that by which aids in establishing for, or against, de facts, ― Yes?
mandela 2 years, 9 months ago
People need to trust the police, " Hogwash" the police need to deserve the trust from the people, we the people don't work for the police, the police works for the people or at least supposed to. Trusting the police is like going into the ocean swimming and encountering a Great white shark and thinking " Oh all is cozy" and not being afraid. If a family member or someone you love is having a mental breakdown, never, ever call the police. if you want that person to get help and not die call someone else.
tribanon 2 years, 9 months ago
And to think Munroe considers himself to be a highly qualified QC. Just think how many laws his careless off-the-cuff remarks have violated and how much harm his reckless conduct has caused the family of the deceased. Munroe obviously has no respect whatsoever for the adage that "loose lips sink ships." Talk about a brain-dead lawyer!
islandgold 2 years, 9 months ago
You nailed it! He is no position to speak of any individuals mental health issues. This is an egregious breach.
DDK 2 years, 9 months ago
This man's appointment as National Security Minister was as bad, if not worse, than that of his predecessor.
realfreethinker 2 years, 9 months ago
Wayne is a joke. A real fooking clown
jus2cents 2 years, 9 months ago
Condolences to all concerned. This could be a possible 'suicide by cop' situation too, sadly it happens quite a lot.
John 2 years, 9 months ago
As a learned attorney and having practiced as a magistrate, Munroe knows the effects of putting this type information before the courts or a jury or in the public domain. Even if he fully withdraws the statement, the effects will already be there and the damage already done. Why is he already trying to justify a police killing in the height of an investigation. Stay neutral in Ian investigation that involves two officers of two branches under your administration. Munroe really slighted and offended the family and loved ones of the slain officers, regardless of the circumstance.
TalRussell 2 years, 9 months ago
Load up policemans' guns with bullets cause 1 in 5 youse, are walking around and having had a functional mental health problem or illness, during just last 12 months, and if reached age 40+, guess what, about 50% of de UK Colony's popoulaces, will have or have experienced a mental illness, meaning, youse could qualify be a moving target of a policemans' silver bullet and everything else like this and that.
Many youse, may have either completely forgotten or weren't aware of a special Jan 2016 gift which security minister, accepted $1.2 million from De People's Republic Of China, earmarked purchase military equipment, including armored vehicles, anti-riot grenade launchers and tear gas grenades, among other things intended for crowd management, During that special occasion, de security minister said, this gift of US$1.2 million is for de defense force and the (RBDF).
. “Further said de securty minister, we have got a short-list here of 33 different types of items which include, two armoured vehicles for the defense force, two 38 automatic anti-riot grenade launchers, 10,038 smoke tear gas grenades, anti-riot gear sets, (and) portable low-light level night vision goggles - 60 of those and everything else like this and that means, they've been preppin as well-armed a military force, since at least, January 2016,
Comrades, this much too serious to just make up, ― Yes?
BONEFISH 2 years, 9 months ago
The minister is completely wrong. He has prejudice a matter that has to be reviewed by the coroner. Those comments are now in the public domain. As a senior attorney practicing previously, he should know better.
TalRussell 2 years, 9 months ago
Mr. Munroe is good and solid man's and whilst he's nailed the lawyering, seems too quick on de ministerial draw and might be wise, holster his pistol, ― Yes?
M0J0 2 years, 9 months ago
As a lawyer he should know he should not comment on an ongoing investigation.
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