By NICO SCAVELLA
Tribune Staff Reporter
nscavella@tribunemedia.net
ASSISTANT Police Commissioner Leon Bethel yesterday warned Bahamian residents to be vigilant of persons posing as police officers.
He urged anyone who faces a situation like this to “quickly” dial 919 “whether you perceive the person to be a police officer or not.”
His warnings came after Tuesday’s murder of 44-year-old Andre Cartwright, a resident of Blair Estates, who was killed while defending his elderly parents after three armed men kicked down the front door to his home.
The men reportedly claimed they were police officers before they invaded the home, Cartwright’s relatives said.
Speaking on the sidelines of a “Father’s Day” breakfast at the RM Bailey high school, ACP Bethel said residents – if opting not to dial 919 first – should respond to the “officers” only if they “shout out their name, rank and serial number” first.
He also said that police have “some good leads” on Tuesday’s incident and were “doubling their efforts” in trying to “drive down the numbers” of home invasions.
He explained how police are supposed to identify themselves when they visit someone’s home.
“When I go on an operation and my officers go to execute, I have my police warrant card and I shout out ‘Assistant Commissioner Leon Bethel,’” he said. “I give my name right up front so (residents) can call the control room. The Drug Enforcement Unit does it, the Central Detective Unit does it, the uniformed operation does it, so if you call 919 right away, then control will be able to tell you if any officers were reported in that area.
“Police officers, if they are coming and they are genuine, they should shout out their name. If the officers don’t want to give their names and give some more information about them, then you should be concerned.
“If someone comes in that area and they’re kicking down the doors and they’re carrying on in a fashion that’s being described, you know they’re not police officers,” he added. “Even though they may be using some uniform that may look like police officers, people should just use their common sense. When you’re not sure just call 919.”
Mr Cartwright was at his Blair Estates home around 1:40am with his mother and father, both in their 60s, when three men kicked in the front door to their house.
According to reports, when he heard the noise, Mr Cartwright got his licensed shotgun and went to investigate. He encountered three suspects, one of whom was armed with a handgun.
There was a brief exchange of shots between both parties, which resulted in Mr Cartwright being shot multiple times and one of the suspects being shot. Mr Cartwright died at the scene, while the three suspects made their getaway in a silver coloured Honda Accord.
Shortly afterwards a woman driver arrived at the Princess Margaret Hospital with a man suffering from gunshot injuries in his chest. He was rushed into surgery and is listed in critical condition.
Responding officers took the woman into custody. Kevin Andrews, 18, of Faith Avenue was yesterday arrested in connection with the murder.
The home invasion has raised concerns that persons might pose as police officers as a means of gaining entry into homes.
When questioned about what police plan to do about these concerns, ACP Bethel said teams of “serious, serious officers” will be on the street in “full force” to “make the public safe for the Christmas season.”
“This activity people may want to engage in, with kicking down doors, we’re not going to allow that to happen,” he said. “We’re going to be out late in the night, we’re going to be out in the evening. You’ll see officers on the street doing road checks, stop and search, targeting prolific persons. We’re going to go after them to make sure they cannot arrange and plan criminal activities because we’re going to be disturbing them.
“So any crease and corner people believe they can roam about and commit crime they have something coming, because they’ll come face to face with me and a number of police officers as they go to try and commit crime.”
Comments
asiseeit 9 years, 5 months ago
Most know that the Police are doing their job to the best of their ability, it is the court system that is a shambles. It is telling in a nation run by lawyers that the judiciary is the problem. I really think that the daft Privy council should be made to live in the ghetto incognito for at least a month and after they get the "feeling" maybe they will change their tune about capitol punishment. One thing is for sure, the animals we are dealing with today thumb their nose at our efforts to control them, they have no fear. The citizens of The Bahamas are being TERRORIZED!
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
They could do better asiseeit. Have you heard anything about the lady whose house was invaded by "real" police officers? They need to call wrong wrong , they're law officers.
B_I_D___ 9 years, 5 months ago
I was thinking about that very same situation...we never did hear the end of that story, got conveniently swept under the rug...
John 9 years, 5 months ago
Is this then to say that the police must cease and desist the practice of smashing down and breaking through the front door of someone's residence under the dark of night? There has been at least several reports of this in this media this year, where the police have smashed into homes and not only refused to identify themselves but harassed and manhandled (or woman handled ) persons who were not their persons of interest, but were regular occupants of the residences targeted.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
FINALLY! I can't believe they didn't do this earlier. And I can't believe the statement wasn't the focus of the event. After the DOM bodyguard was shot everybody showed up at a press conference why not this?
Second needed action, publicly denounce bad behaving officers. Regarding those officers who barged into a home a few months ago, just like these robbers, what happened to that "internal" investigation? The tribune still has the video. It probably looks just like what Mr Cartwright experienced. Sometimes you need to make examples of bad behaving people. Seriously. Stop propping up criminals, corrupt politicians and illegal gambling. (You know the darkness these gambling houses bring, drugs, prostitution, illegal guns, human smuggling, but you looked the other way) stop looking the other way
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
"DPM's bodyguard"
John 9 years, 5 months ago
So when was the DPM's body guard shot?
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
The incident behind super value prince Charles.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
Remember Brave Davis' "now we know no one is safe" statement? Then there was the attempted robbery of another off duty policeman in his driveway, another high level press conference. Then there was the murder of the half time full pay civil service worker another press conference.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 5 months ago
someone comes in that area and they’re kicking down the doors and they’re carrying on in a fashion that’s being described, you know they’re not police officers,” he added. “Even though they may be using some uniform that may look like police officers, people should just use their common sense. When you’re not sure just call 919.”
This makes me want to scream, no disrespect to ACP Bethel. This is exactly what happens in the video on the tribune website, but NOBODY, NOBODY, NOBODY, has publicly denounced it. They protect these bad officers like they protect tievin politicians. She called 919, another patrol car showed up and SHE WAS ARRESTED??? Commissioner you have to right this wrong, say something.
positiveinput 9 years, 5 months ago
Which would have been quicker, to call the police and wait for a responding unit or grab your own means of defense. Unfortunately, this country doesn't give its citizens an equal fighting chance when it comes to gun laws and defending ourselves from criminals. Crime is on the rise and certain laws need to be updated.
ChaosObserver 9 years, 5 months ago
What a joke....when the police say "“quickly” dial 919".....haha...has anyone tried calling the police or fire department recently? Really? No answers....50+ rings before someone picks up...or more common, calls don't go through....how about getting these departments to answer their damn phones! And even if you do reach someone, it's 30-60 minutes before they show up!
B_I_D___ 9 years, 5 months ago
Yeah...919... 'WHEN IT WORKS' ...is pathetic
John 9 years, 5 months ago
The fact is that many homes don't have land line phones anymore. And many cell phones do not dial 919, maybe because they are preprogrammed to dial 911. Maybe BT needs to look into this.
TalRussell 9 years, 5 months ago
Comrades while two ministers of crown have different take on rapes it just goes to prove that with the Blair Estates Home Invasion murder there is "little evidence to show" efforts to curb violence message against citizens in Nassau Town has reached the thugs. What citizens and residents are not confused about is The Tribune will continue to run more heartbreaking headlines about murders, rapes, home invasions, break and entry, stabbings, business people being killed for their days cash register proceeds. Crimes that will be carried out by young criminals. No damn wonder Bahamalander's don't have enough time worry about sales of prime real properties to a foreign government. Somebody do something, before they come kill the families of those reading this blog? If you can't then step aside to allow somebody who can. What citizens and residents don't need is more talk and promises. No more funerals.
...........//http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krJW2q...">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krJW2q...
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