POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander.
By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS
Tribune Staff Reporter
lmunnings@tribunemedia.net
POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander defended the police force’s new arrest incentive system, which critics believe could lead to overly aggressive policing.
A recently leaked Royal Bahamas Police Force document said the system is an attempt to “foster teamwork, boost morale, and recognise outstanding performance.”
The system would award points to teams based on the number of arrests made for major or minor offences.
The teams would also gain points for activities that include stopping and searching people and issuing tickets.
The team with the least number of sick reports would be awarded points. Points would also be awarded for protecting government property.
National Security Minister Wayne Munroe had previously dismissed the competition as fake news, but Commissioner Fernander confirmed and defended its existence yesterday.
“Even a dog, if he does something good, the handler, awards him,” he said. “Let me tell you a story. Just last week, during an operation, our canine unit, the handler took him into some deep bushes where we suspected there were drugs and firearms. The canines were able to recover a lot of drugs in that area.
“And you know what the handler did to reward him? He lift the dog up and put him on his shoulder and brought him out to the front area. I thought that was so profound. I thought it was an excellent initiative by the handler. When I first saw the photo, I thought the dog was injured, but that’s what he did for his reward.”
Commissioner Fernander said police are investigating the leak of the internal memo.
“This is an in-house friendly competition,” he said. “It is not uncommon throughout the world in forces where we honour officers for good work.”
The competition will initially last three months. A special award will be given to officers on the winning team, though the nature of the award was not disclosed.
More like this story
- RBPF competition rewards ‘ill conceived’ says rights group
- EDITORIAL: COP not inspiring confidence in face of criticisms
- MAKING ARRESTS WINS COPS PRIZES: System seeks to boost morale - but minister says it’s fake news
- RBDF says no competition system like police - officers rewarded for efforts at year’s end
- Munroe defends scheme he said was fake news
Comments
moncurcool 1 year, 1 month ago
This COP has to be seriously or knowledge. So he compares the police to dogs? I guess that is why so many behave the way they do.
So the COP say police need rewards to do their job in addition to their salaries? WOW.
This so call rewards is ripe for abuse and corruption. Expect pullovers just to increase their points for the reward.
So the hand does not know what the foot is doing?
IslandWarrior 1 year, 1 month ago
"In the dual realms of life in the Bahamas as a Bahamian, one navigates two distinct worlds. In one, the 'Night Guards' are guardians of their master's property. At the same time, the citizens (the Bahamian People) grapple with the disillusionment of a 'protect and serve' concept that never truly existed. Simultaneously, the 'Night Guards' are diligently trained to view the Bahamian People as a potential threat, upholding their duty to the fullest extent, guided by their pledge and honour as 'Night Guards of their Masters."
bahamianson 1 year, 1 month ago
Yeah, this guy is something else. The implication of his comment is beyond his comprehension. I think he means well, though.
FreeportFreddy 1 year, 1 month ago
QUESTION: How many other Police Forces do the same? ANSWER: Zero, Zilch, Nada, None
REASON: It calls into question ANY and ALL arrests made.
Do they get extra bonuses for shootings? Extra extra if it involves an innocent bystander??
AnObserver 1 year, 1 month ago
Exactly. This is poorly thought out. All the defense attorney needs to do is point out that the arresting officer had a financial incentive to make the arrest, and therefore can't be trusted.
mandela 1 year, 1 month ago
Thanks commissioner, we the people had always referred to the way the police operates and interact with the Bahamian people as dog like actions, so thanks very much for confirming that they are in fact human dogs, loyal only to their masters, you and the RBPF.
One 1 year, 1 month ago
Why do we expend Bahamian public resources on finding illegal drugs? Those drugs are in transit and the movement of drugs adds money to our economy.
Focus public resources on issues that have the maximum benefit to the average Bahamian life.
We're still brainwashed by the USA President Nixon's "war on drugs" from 1971. Which was later proven to have an anti-black agenda.
Our first black prime minister Mr. Pindling already addressed this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCoWgiO…
Focus on improving the average Bahamian life. Instead of treating the average black and poor Bahamian as criminals and a nuisance. Reward officers for community-building activities. Treat arrests of the average Bahamian as a tragedy that we didn't teach, mentor, and provide them reasonable opportunities to live a lawful life. The majority of Bahamian criminals are doing so because they don't have a better alternative.
DWW 1 year, 1 month ago
well said
One 1 year, 1 month ago
"He lift the dog up and put him on his shoulder and brought him out to the front area. I thought that was so profound. I thought it was an excellent initiative by the handler."
He's getting leadership inspiration from the training of a dog? Wow. A dog doesn't get a salary to spend however they please. Government employees are rewarded by their salaries, pensions and benefits. Also as civil servants, they should get intrinsic and personal satisfaction from serving the community. Otherwise, why did they apply to be a civil servant? Any bonuses should be for improving the community. Not for performing arrests the basic tasks of the job. The goal should be to get us to the point of not needing arrests because the community is living in peace and harmony.
Are we going to arrest ourselves to a crimeless society? Is that how we get there? Everyone makes mistakes at some point in their lives. I never heard of or met anyone whose life was positively transformed thanks to being arrested. And prison only seems to damage people more creating lifetime criminals.
This guy should be fired. Not leading impressionable young officers.
TalRussell 1 year, 1 month ago
'All Public Servants' --- Must take oaths of allegiance, --- An oath is supposed to remind 'servants' of the special trust placed in them to carry out their duties on behalf of --- "All Popoulaces' and never to abuse that trust. --- Says nothing, about, --- How applied, be dependent upon the Handing-out of Prizes! ---Yes?
themessenger 1 year, 1 month ago
This man is absolutely clueless, every time he opens his mouth he just changes whichever foot he has in it.
realfreethinker 1 year, 1 month ago
I am still puzzled by his selection as COP. A train wreck
trueBahamian 1 year, 1 month ago
What the hell? This is crazy. You already have officers being extremely aggressive and abusing their power now you're incentivizing bad behavior? The Commissioner should be fired for suggesting something so reckless. Giving an officer an award for bravery in the act of duty on an occasion where it's deserving is fine. Creating a competition where the worse within each of them can be brought to the forefront is really poor judgment.
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