How Long Before We Realize the Emergency?

There are distinct difference between emergencies, crisis, and disasters, despite our tendency to use the 3 social disorders synonymously. The crisis and disaster being the ill handling or ignoring of an emergency event. The various schools of disaster and continuity management differ in established parameters, but agree that they are different. ‘Joe Public or Private’, by experience or just gut feeling determines an emergency not the authorities be they police or government. The latter are responsible to respond solve the emergency. For example ‘919 / 911’ is established so that Joe Public or Private can advise that there is a situation in need if resolution. It would be inappropriate for the emergency operator to say from their position that they do not believe that there is an urgent situation.

The current state of affairs as it relates to crime and social disobedience in the Bahamas is far from normal. We are seeing and hearing of behavior that leaves a lot to be desired about the future and well being of the nation. This statement is mine and is supported by the fact the murder rate has sky rocketed not to mention the assault statics which have nearly tripled in the last 10 years. If you agree with my observations then you should agree that we cannot bury our heads in the ground and hope that it all gets better. I venture to say that you will say that we are in an emergency situation.

For several months I have watched as our society is faced with increasing incidents of violence and more so concerned by the refusal of the leadership of our country to take proactive steps to curve this problem. Both political parties have refused to take action and rather play the blame game as to who is at fault. Frankly, we all are at fault for this condition and slowly we are accepting it as a part of Bahamian Culture. 20 years ago it was unusual to see police officers carrying firearms, now high powered weapons is normal and even being used to respond to unarmed civilians. The hiring of off duty police officers once exclusive to the police band is now outsourced to the highest bidder. A general public who in days gone by dared not challenge authority of the police, now is regular accepted and excused occurrence.

Never the less we must also be careful of what would appear to be what I call the desperate times call for desperate measures syndrome, which translates into arming all police officers , security guards and any other 'reasonable citizen'. As attractive as this seems it can and will only make matters worse. Some signs of this can be seen where major business that can afford it now have an armed police officer standing guard at their front door inclusive of security guards, cameras, and alarms.

However those that cannot now have become the targets for the criminals.I have my suggestions quite a few actually regarding curving disorderly state of affairs and certainly there are many others who can chime in. But that is not my purpose for this writing, the point here is to advise that we are in a national emergency situation. This is said with the understanding that many local emergency events have erupted in the last 10 years, but they have been confined and isolated to communities and islands. These events are stepping stones for a far more dangerous state of affairs if not checked now. If we are not careful the crisis and disastrous situations that our neighbors to south like Trinidad, Guyana, and most recently Jamaica have encountered and currently face will certainly show its head in the Bahamas.

The public out cry is heard all over the country for more hangings, stiffer penalties which translate in my opinion and more importantly we are afraid. This fear without a doubt says to me and maybe to you that this is an emergency; as the fire begins to grow, water needs to be put on it. Note I said water, not some bring in the consultants advanced chemical and technological agent, simple reliable water. Thus our crime situation requires and can be managed with simple fixes and more than police intervention. But first we must realize the danger and be willing to address it.

Responding to Bank Lane vs. Preventing Bank Lane

The front page of today's Tribune shows a police officer with a high powered weapon apparently being used to assist in the quelling of an aggressive crowd at Bank Lane on Wednesday November 4, 2010. This intimidating posturing by the police leaves a lot of concern about Royal Bahamas Police Force ability to credibly and civilly address the numerous variations of conflict that they face. Really, what is this officer, suggesting with his weapon at the ready? If the public and the authorities do see this posturing as troubling then, we have become and desensitized to increasing violence in our society; and are prepared to condone any act of force to suppress civil disobedience nosy crowd / mob / robbery / rape etc.

As I write this you are reminded that I am very pro police and in no way am I attempting to minimize what I personally know is a very difficult profession. Never the less there must be balanced, appropriate, and justifiable response by law enforcement. Use of Force Management, demands the application of just enough force to control with applicant keeping mind reasonableness and human rights.

Thus the police must make greater efforts to prevent the obvious. Not just the police, but the Ministries of National Security and Tourism, as the unrest at this location will have tremendous rippling affects. Bank Lane for quite some time has become the stage where accused persons are displayed publicly for ridicule and on many occasions praise and admiration. Whatever the current public opinion is of the persons doing the 'bank lane shuffle', the fact that the State has taken these persons into custody makes the State responsible for their safety, well being, and protection. For this reason and the potential damming fall out, why suspects and the escorting police / prison officers are continuously exposure to injury, assault and harm, at this point is beyond me.

Simply deny access at the perimeter of the court location to members of the public who have no business being there. This can be done immediately by developing a witness list, that is all persons who attending court should be listed on a daily register that is maintained by the police and court officials. This is not difficult as list of prisoners are available daily. This short term solution will reduce the number of persons who just 'hanging out'. Another recommendation is building a decorative perimeter fence, not chain link but perhaps decorative iron work that does take away from the charm of downtown but limits access by those who appear to be charmless.

It makes no sense to dispel disruptive persons from Bank Lane, when the obvious spillage area is Bay Street. Now the angry and disorderly group are on you main street, for the whole world to see. Initiatives, not necessarily mine, must be put in place now to minimize this daily event. Frankly, it should just be stoped post haste and arraignments of this type be done at Fox Hill Prison or be video conferencing. I am certain that many alternatives are available to stop this unnecessary parading.

To wait for the disruption, knowing that it is eminent borders in my opinion on lunacy. Compound this with inappropriate response mechanism and tactics, exposes the public ridicule, legal and civil liability. Simply put, eliminate opportunities for these types of events, prevent them from happening.

What should the Police Do!

Recent police shootings have come under heavy criticism from the public, who feel that excessive force is being used. Officers it appears are 'shooting first and asking questions later', not making what some may say are good judgement calls. What complicates these events is when it seems that police are being selective who they fire upon, apparently following into a dangerous trap of stereotyping.

Be it as it may, officers have a dangerous job and like me and you want to enjoy life and live to see retirement. If we expect better performance from the police on the street then we must make the police leadership provide reasonable solutions and alternatives to the application of force.

At the same time we must also support the efforts of the police as they risk their lives daily to ensure we can all enjoy the freedoms of this land. The police must be encouraged to what is necessary to curb crime in this country, but must not become criminal in their efforts!

Stop - Arrest - Search..., A Matter of Survival!

Those of you who know my area of expertise should have expected comments regarding yesterdays and to days headline regrading the violent and racist attack on our police officers. This is indeed a hot topic for me and the only reasons my comments have been delayed is because I did not know where to start. Never the less let us begin!

First and foremost we must begin with the cultural influences that relate to combat or 'fighting' as we say. How we react and deal with people varies based on several parameters. Here are just a few of them;

• who they are
• where we live (country / neighborhood)
• where they are
• time of day
• there sexual orientation
• how we feel
• what we are wearing
• drugs alcohol
• etc.

These parameters have been drilled in us from we were kids, thus how are raised and in what country are probably the strongest of these determining factors. These influences will dictate to us initially subconsciously then consciously how we respond to threats. Here in the Bahamas for the most part Caucasians are seen as an untouchable group especially of they are foreign group. This reality as much as we battle it, has been drilled into us for several generations and is not easily removed. This factored is amplified when this individual is seen as 'tourist' our bread and butter, persons who we must protect no matter what the cost.

Unless individuals be they police officers or the average person on the street, regularly removes or learns to jump over these barriers he / she is left with an intense experience of the 'Fight or Flight Syndrome'. This syndrome is the bodies instinctive mechanism flooding the muscles with adrenal, but because of the barriers as mentioned earlier the person does not know if they should run or not. Now some of us have because of experience, alcohol, drugs etc., are able to overcome these barriers where as some may not see them as barriers at all.

Secondly an area I would like to discuss is the comments on the web and some I have overheard in local eateries is that the police need to be taught how to properly defend themselves. You imagine how I had to bite my lip and tongue in this one. Let the record reflect that the police are given instruction in police orientated self defense. They are also taught how to properly restrain individuals, handcuff and search them. They are not taught a formal martial art as this approach is very formalized, restrictive and does lend to good combat and tactical thinking. Never the less, unlike firearms training which is regularly refreshed, police officers are not refreshed in hand to hand training. This factor in my opinion contributed greatly to the turn of events.

Thirdly, with regards to proper use of force or lack there of, there several use of force options, that for whatever reason are not adequately explored by our police force. Less lethal force options such as batons, pepper spray, and stun guns, are almost non existent in the police arsenal. In fact it would appear that after the officers has attempted to dialogue with suspects his only option if the person is not compliant is to pull out his / her weapon and shoot the person. It is the absence of these tools that caused a relatively controllable incident to exploded in to something that could have been more manageable.

This may seem untrue and not practical, but if the organization has not provided options then what is left for the officer to do. How can he adequately protect the citizenry if he has in the first instance not been adequately trained and in the second not been equipped. The management of how force is applied (fighting) especially for the police is a very delicate exercise that has repercussions in to the Public Treasury. It cannot be left to chance, as officers lives and that of the general populace depends on it.

Focus on the Begining not the End

Admittedly I would be the first to advocate for changes in laws and the how the courts are administrated. It is an obvious overwhelming situation at the courts for all those concerned. Daily I see the torrent of participants from police, to attorneys, witness, defendants, and of course the ever present spectators who flood the Bank Lane and Nassau Street area. It appears that only persons benefiting from this are the local eateries that thrive off of the reliable trafficking of persons. Never the less, this is not the where the problem with crime in our country is, as the appearance of these various players is the end result of a crime that has already been committed. Thus in my opinion it is not best place to begin to affect remedy and change. I venture to say that the courts are not even a short term solution to crime prevention as they have nothing to do with the latter. The criminal justice system is concerned about investigation and issuing of penalties and punishment. Note crime prevention should not be confused with an inadequate criminal justice system, as one only affects the other. If our concern is the amount of crime in the Bahamas, then we need to at minimum start with the various law enforcement agencies that are charged with crime monitoring and response. Those groups are the Police and Defense Forces, Immigration and Custom Departments, not the Prisons Services. Bear in mind that these agencies are also a part of the criminal justice system, but also play important roles in prevention. However, if we are REALLY serious about reducing crime i.e eliminating opportunity for crime we will start in the Social Services, Education, Youth and Sports ministries. Certainly, this suggestion is a far from the traditional focus and lead taken on by National Security. It is these ministries in my opinion that our on the ground on the front line that can develop and maintain channels for productive and creative future citizens. They also can provide the community support for the rehabilitation that so many would be and current offenders. Also important they address moral and ethical issues as opposed to matters of law. Thus appealing to the character building, and introducing individuals to rules and regulations. Failure to follow the rules and regulations at this stage may only cost points or a match not a life. If we miss the important life lessons that sports, education provide for long term socialization then we will be focused on the fighting the fire with water as opposed to just taking away the matches. My observations have determined that our family and youth groups are failing horribly, I know am a genius. This is the root problem, thus where the greatest efforts and resources need to be placed. Before we even arrive at the courts, simply take a look on our streets, the concerts the weekend and weekday hangouts. Here we will see young folks behaving rudely and out of order, of course to them it is called fun, but seriously. Fun is indeed a relative term as what you may deem as good time, other s may see as reckless. For example I have friends who can spend all day and night on the basketball court, but I am one who would prefer one on one fighting scenarios at my martial arts school. To each his own, indeed, never the less all of us regardless of our passion are willing participants. How can fun be exercised at the expense of another, where that person’s life, property and reputation are put at risk? But I am not going to irate about behavior, especially when it is in my power to control it. As the saying goes bend the tree while it is young. Well the question is who is responsible for bending these ‘cheren dem’. Once again what I see is the failure of parents, not all but just enough to cause as of May 2010 a murder count and armed robbery count that are unacceptable. Thus civil society and government must now step up to the plate. Should the civil society or the government be raising our kids, of course not, however if the are failures in parenting something must be done. It is better to engage that young man or woman now before they come crawling through your window and place a gun to your head. Before is the operative word here, it speaks to prevention, delay, deterrence. Unlike after which speaks to detection, detention and penalties. If we put to much focus on after affects we will miss the proverbial boat, and not really impact the occurrence of crime. Our youth need positive outlets for their energy, frustration and conflicts. A prime example of this is Junkanoo; here we see the melting pot of various background come together to accomplish one goal. During the preparation time we see discipline, confidence and respect for and towards the other person regardless of socioeconomic status. This model needs to be followed, tapped into and harnessed as it speaks to our ability to live together in harmony, and produce a product that is truly Bahamian

Just scratching the Surface

If the what we are seeing recently in the police is a sign questionable recruitment practices and inadequate training, then we must ask what other issues lay hidden waiting to rear its ugly head. Currently the prosepective police under go what is called an extended interview process, where the potential candidate spends two days on campus undergoing both physical and psychological assessments. By comparison, I am not aware of any other organization / company locally that undertakes such a rigorous process. You must also bear in mind that those who make it to this phase would have also had to have passed an entrance exam.

With such a comprehensive approach, then we must ask what goes wrong, maybe the results of these assessments are not adhered too or maybe because of other external influences.

Similarly the training process is very extensive, and really, based on organizational policy takes 2 years to complete, yes the equivalent of a college degree. So what again I ask what is going wrong? Why is such a comprehensive, admired and exhaustive program finding itself wanting?

Some would say that no system is perfect, I agree with this never the less the proof is in the pudding. As indicated the new, we can still call him 'new' Commissioner has a task. He must tidy inside the house and outside and at the same time keep the country safe from crime and reduce the fear of it also.

Policing the Police

What a task in front of him, new Commissioner of Police has the apparently daunting task of not only policing the Community at large but also the members of his organization. In the last few weeks we have seen several officers brought before the courts on a variety of charges and allegations. It does not look good for the Force.., or does it?

When we see anyone or organization without hesitation dealing with his or their organizations faults we think it is for the better. The reality folks conray to popular belief the police are not free of their delinquencies. Thus the Commissioner and his leadership team should be commended for their efforts to bring creditability and respect back to the organization. This as painful as it is has to begin from the inside. The public must not just hear the talk but see the actions of cleaning up of the police force.

We totally support these efforts and endorse them as necessary step in ensuring the public regains and maintains the confidence in the police force.