EDITORIAL: Triple shooting by police must be fully investigated

As of Monday, June 15, 2020

THREE men were shot dead by police this weekend.

That’s the simplest of facts about the shooting on Saturday. There are of course two sides to the rest of the story – but the shooting comes at a time of heightened tensions around the world about officer-involved killings.

In this column last week, we wrote about those tensions – and the question has been raised in more than one place why people care so much about officers who overstep the mark in the United States, but care so little about officers who do so here at home.

We do not know the full details yet of this latest incident. Police describe the incident as an ambush, saying that gunshots came from the car as an officer approached it. One relative of one of the men killed insisted that no shots came from the car. Someone is right, someone is wrong.

There are some curious inconsistencies in the story told by police, however.

Police Commissioner Paul Rolle said that the gunfire began as an officer approached the car and tried to speak to the driver through the tinted windows. He said that officer tried to make his escape and at that point “the other officers that were there then engaged the participants of the vehicle who continued shooting at the officers”.

He then said only one of the three officers fired bullets, not the other two. In what way then did the other two engage the occupants of the car.

Take a look at the photographs of the car published today. There are a significant number of bullet holes in the car. One gun was found in the vehicle, and police say one police officer fired. Did all of those bullet holes come from just two guns? None of the police was injured, thankfully. All three men in the vehicle were killed, two of which presumably were unarmed.

Last week, a Supreme Court justice warned that discharging weapons should be a last resort – referring to a case of an officer who shot a man in his back. That case took 13 years to reach that outcome.

Commissioner Rolle said this incident was nothing like that – saying this was an ambush, and saying that if people want to engage the police “they need to be prepared to meet their maker”.

He did not say whether the officers are being taken off duty while the investigation takes place – including the single officer who just killed three people who if he had no alternative then at the very least he needs counselling and not to be thrown back out on the streets. Commissioner Rolle also did not detail how any review of the incident might be conducted. Is that it?

As we said earlier, there are two sides to the story. Where police have opened fire, and others have questioned whether there were shots fired on police in the first place, a thorough investigation is not just warranted, but demanded.

This also serves as another example of why we should have body cameras on officers by now. If everything was as outlined by Commissioner Rolle, video evidence would quickly and simply resolve the matter.

We would also say that it shows the need for a standard protocol when incidents such as this happen – taking officers off the front line while an investigation takes place and publishing all the evidence so that people can have confidence that there was nothing else that could have been done, the only solution was to use deadly force.

This should not end here. There should be a full investigation. But this also shows the need for the reforms people have been calling for. Isn’t it about time they were delivered?

Hundreds missing after Dorian

Hundreds of people are still missing after Hurricane Dorian. Hundreds. And yet, in revealing that information, National Security Minister Marvin Dames chooses to target Dr Duane Sands for criticism.

We don’t recall him speaking up to counter then Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson in January when he said 54 missing persons reports had been filed.

We don’t remember him correcting Assistant Commissioner Solomon Cash when he said that 33 missing persons reports had been filed.

Police still didn’t have an explanation yesterday for those apparent discrepancies when contacted yesterday by The Tribune.

Instead, Mr Dames criticised Dr Sands for asking why the lists of names had gone from thousands to hundreds, and said the lists also had people who weren’t missing but just needed housing, or people reporting crimes or who were displaced, or duplication. He said 813 people fell into those categories. That took them out of a list that had 1,092 names on it. That comes to 279 still missing.

He added that numbers are expected to fluctuate “as the reconciliation process continues”, although we are now many months past Dorian and hope has long been spent.

Hurricane Dorian was no one’s fault. Blame might be directed at preparations and response, but this monster storm that sat over Abaco and Grand Bahama was not the fault of the government.

So why not be completely transparent over establishing exactly how badly wounded our nation was by the storm?

People want to have answers. People want to grieve. People want to feel they are being taken seriously as they search for their missing relatives.

That is not too much to ask.

birdiestrachan 3 years, 10 months ago

The police story is inconsistent. and when did the commissioner become the one who makes press statements??conferences.??

It is to late now because the Police has the car. but there should be a means of telling if a gun shot came from the inside or the out side of the car

The statement that if any one confronts the Police they should be ready to meet their maker these are sad days for the Bahamas.

Dames and Sands use to be close. they were both present at the fake OBAN signing. Dames is the Minister under which they have been to many Police shootings..

birdiestrachan 3 years, 10 months ago

Important point. If the windows of the car were heavily tinted. The Person in the car had a better and clearer view of the Police. than the Police would have through the tinted windows, of those in the car..

But none of the Police were harmed and the three men were killed.

Future 3 years, 10 months ago

You people always run your mouth like you think you know everything. When the guy in the backseat shot his gun through the window, if he did not shoot at a direct 90° angle to the glass, in other words, perpendicular to the glass, the bullet would veer from its original trajectory, hence that is why the officer was not hit

xtreme2x 3 years, 10 months ago

what qualify you as an expert?

My2Cents 3 years, 10 months ago

This is by far the most dense comment in the thread. If you don’t wish to be objective and use your critical thinking skills, keep your thoughts to yourself.

moncurcool 3 years, 10 months ago

This editorial hits the same questions I had on the commissioner's statement. However, I do not expect that the commissioner will provide any answers to the discrepancies. Sadly, we have another do nothing commissioner in the post. One who only there because of time on force and not one known for outstanding service and innovation.

Future 3 years, 10 months ago

Stop siding with criminals..... unless, of course, you are one as well

Future 3 years, 10 months ago

Our police need to continue to remove the Scourges of society so that the people of the Bahamas can walk freely Amongst the land

DDK 3 years, 10 months ago

This is what happens when you take D educated 'law enforcement' persons, and their leaders, and weaponize them. This is what happens when corrupt idiots run a country. It is also what happens after decades of no border control and corrupt immigration civil servants. What a cesspool!

My2Cents 3 years, 10 months ago

Well said.

tribanon 3 years, 10 months ago

But surely all of those 'happening' things also explains why we have so many hard core criminals roaming around in our country today, especially on New Providence Island.

WETHEPEOPLE 3 years, 10 months ago

What yall dont know is that one or if not all these police officers have been involved in fatal police shootings before. What yall dont know is that these police officers served under Paul Rolle in the past before he held the post he has today. What yall dont know is that these police are hitmen and do not serve the publics interest. This was not an "ambush", this was MURDER!!! It will now be covered up as Mr. Rolle looks to protect himself and his shady police hitmen. Paul Rolle should be made to resign, and the officer who fired, should be relieved of his job immediately.

tribanon 3 years, 10 months ago

I think the police may have thankfully taken the hitmen out before they took out their intended target.

bahamianson 3 years, 10 months ago

three, four guys in a car at a funeral unrelated to the deceased....Suspect. three , four guys sitting in a car with tinted windows, come om guys? The police will stop any car with four guys and tints. It fits the profile. Wait ,are we profiling people ? So, if you have dreads and jeans exposing your butt, are you a criminal? If you are dark skin, are you poor? If you are bright skin, are you rich? If you are dark , do you live in Bain town automatically? If you are bright shinned, do you live out West , automatically? This is systemic. Do you get charged more for anything, if you live out west? Do you get charged less, if you live in Grants town?

Godson 3 years, 10 months ago

ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL AND NEED FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE SHOOTINGS is the need to address the deepening social divide and hate that has evolved among our citizens, in particular, the police and our young poor black Bahamian males. We cannot continue on like this and expect to become a strong and vibrant country.

The total social and economical collapse of The Bahamas is assured if this vitriolic atmosphere persist.

There needs be a National Day of Truth & Reconciliation. Like the Honourable Frederick McAlpine, M.P. said the other day: WE NEED A FRESH START

Future 3 years, 10 months ago

Vitriol definition: Bitterly harsh or caustic language or criticism. Vitriolic definition: personal attacks.

Buddy, please tell me exactly what you are trying to say. I’m not sure if you’re ready for big boy words yet. That last sentence was an example of both a vitriol and vitriolic statement.

Godson 3 years, 10 months ago

vitriolic /ˌvɪtrɪˈɒlɪk/

filled with bitter criticism or malice.

I underscore 'malice'; however, my learned person, meaning is not in words, it is in you.

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