Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade speaking to the media. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
POLICE Commissioner Ellison Greenslade yesterday said he was “very concerned” that the country’s “terrible” murder rate has reached triple digits this year as he criticised the lack of public outcry over the volume of illegal weapons on the streets.
He stressed that police will not back down from criminals who would “overrun this country” if they had the chance.
He said while this country has the ability to stop the scourge of crime, the Bahamas is no different from other countries that battle high crime numbers.
Mr Greenslade further expressed his support for officers “who do their jobs” when they are confronted by gun-wielding perpetrators.
Speaking to reporters at police headquarters, the police chief said he was “confused” by the fact that offenders are repeatedly released into the public by the court system.
He said the homicide rate for the year has hit 100 already because there are many young men in this country who have no respect for themselves or the Bahamas’ laws.
“One hundred and counting Bahamians predominantly have died in the Bahamas as a result of crime and criminality at the hands of a perpetrator with an illegal gun,” Mr Greenslade said.
“I am really, really concerned that there is no significant human cry in respect of the illegality that pertains and the fact that these things are being done by relatively young men who have no respect for themselves, no respect for the laws of this country and do not certainly recognise the sanctity of life.
“Let me say it again, 100 of our citizens (is) a terrible record and it would do us well to be very careful not to discourage hard working men and women of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and by extension all law enforcement agencies who stand as a last bastion of hope against these people.
“If they had a chance (they) would in fact overrun this country and I say that without reservation – we’re not going to allow them to do it and we are not going to take a back step.
“I am very concerned that we are in (triple) digit figures but I am not concerned about breaking records. I am not interested at all in records because all across the globe records are being broken.”
Mr Greenslade encouraged people with illegal weapons to turn them into police, as officers will not hesitate to act if confronted.
“I have told them and will say it again on the record that I will never ever interfere with their discretion and more particularly their lawful discretion if an officer, (who) is properly trained, (is) accosted by a felon with an illegal weapon, more specifically an illegal gun.
“I expect that officer will do all in his or her power to defend himself or herself and most certainly to protect the lives of any innocent person who could fall victim to a bullet from an illegal handgun in the hand of a prolific offender.
“This commissioner has never, ever sidestepped on any matter involving actions of police officers and members of the police service where there was a need for swift and decisive action.”
This year’s homicide rate hit three digits last Thursday when police officially classified the death of a man, whose family believes he was robbed and beaten before he died in hospital, as a homicide.
Police launched an official investigation into the death of 64-year-old John Henry Frazier last week Monday, after he was taken to the Princess Margaret Hospital on August 24 suffering from injuries to the body. He died in hospital on August 26.
Initially police said an autopsy would have to be performed to determine the exact cause of death and did not immediately classify the incident as a homicide.
The country’s murder count so far this year continues to outpace the figure for last year at this point. At the end of August 2014, the country had recorded 84 homicides, according to police statistics.
Last year, the Bahamas did not record 100 murders until the first week of November.
Comments
birdiestrachan 8 years, 7 months ago
Mr: Greenslade is doing a very good job in very difficult circumstances, I support him 100%. I am sorry to see so many persons loose their lives by wicked persons, who have no regard for human life. what ever happened to " Thou shall not Kill" Bahamians every where should pray for the commissioner and the men and women of the Police Force. Let us put them on our prayer list. How many Churches do.?
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 7 months ago
Greenslade don't seem to realize that the outrage has already started at the top because that is where it all falls down. The people at the top take what they want, how they want, and when they want. Monkey See - Monkey Do !
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 7 months ago
Was thinking the same thing...Love Mr Greenslade, but when there was the public outcry about illegal gambling...what did the police do? What did they tell us our cries were worth?
DreamerX 8 years, 7 months ago
Illegal gambling is a victim-less crime. It would be equally to say, where is the public outcry when daddy spent the school uniform money at the bar!
MonkeeDoo 8 years, 7 months ago
You trying to get me going now eh ?
sheeprunner12 8 years, 7 months ago
Oh Lord .... I feel so sorry for this toothless tiger .............. please resign and retire COP
TalRussell 8 years, 7 months ago
I love you likes a fellow Comrade but Commish, can you start with getting your policeman's and policewoman's to respond to the public's outcry for emergency help.
Please Commish, in the name Lord Jesus, could someone on other end phones, please answer them, if not at least stop encouraging citizens and residents from attempting to call into the Royal Bahamaland Policeman's and Policewoman's Force lines to report all criminal activity, serious accidents, fire and emergencies by dialing 911 or 919.
Commish, even if someone sees suspicious characters with guns, what are you asking them to do. Do you expect them drive their cars, peddle their bicycles or walk to the station to file a report?
Commish, policing is all about imagery in minds citizens and residents, and there you have a serious issue you must address. That imagery of someone breaking into your home or business now, or if you come home and see a door or window forced open, do not go in – does not exactly leave you with the imagery to go find a nearby phone and call Commish Greenslades at 911.
Call you for what?
sheeprunner12 8 years, 7 months ago
If the Commish wants to do something good for this country ......... first start by firing at least 30% of the lousy treasonous police officers that are out there masquerading as criminals in uniform ................... there are too many police and cars in Nassau for so much crime to be happening ........... hell there are more police in Nassau than most large European cities with millions of people!!!!!!!!
That proves why we are still Third World
Emac 8 years, 7 months ago
100% correct!!!
John 8 years, 7 months ago
Rather than just having "walk snouts", the commissioner needs to plan some "talk abouts", where officers go and meet with young men and hold "rap sessions". Where they not only talk to young men about crime and the consequences of becoming involved in crime but also to listen and to hear the concerns of young men today. Put retired or officers close to retirement in the schools not as peace/law enforcement officers but as mentors and father figures to to these young men, especially those from single parent homes and those who appears to be at risk. With the murder count solid on the 100 mark with almost 4 months in the year, the country is headed to record 148 murders this year. However there seems to have been a slow down in murders recently, but it was during a period when the police killed five young men. And if you want to see what else is happening to young men in this country, take a drive around the inner city and Potters Cay area. Count the number of zombies walking. We have a serious drug problem in this country and no doubt it contributes to crime, violence and yes murder.
justthefactsplease 8 years, 7 months ago
Commish, here is my outcry on guns...why is it that only criminals have guns? Why can't law abiding citizens who meet a preset criteria be allowed to arm themselves...it is evident that you can not stop the criminals from getting the guns so the least you could do is give us the sheeple a chance to defend ourselves.
paul_vincent_zecchino 8 years, 7 months ago
Samuel L. Jackson, the prominent actor, recently said it: "Everyone had guns when I was growing up and no one got shot. It's not about guns, and gun control is not the answer to evil people."
There was an hysterical outcry years ago when Florida streamlined its concealed carry laws to permit more citizens to carry firearms. The press and the gun-control crowd predicted that every minor car accident would turn into a bloodbath as enraged drivers shot one another in the street.
Typical leftist media lies.
The opposite occurred: crime dropped because criminals knew their next crime might be their last, as citizens were now capable of defending themselves.
In New Orleans twenty years ago there occurred a rash of carjackings. A law was passed which permitted citizens to defend themselves against these thugs by means of lawfully possessed firearms. Without a shot fired, the carjackings stopped, as criminals realized their next carjacking might be their last.
Presently in America, about forty states have loosened their gun laws to permit citizens to carry firearms provided they meet the requirements.
In those states with relaxed gun laws, crime is low and dropping because criminals do not wish to endanger their lives by preying on citizens who can defend themselves.
In jurisdictions with 'good strong gun control to keep people safe', such as Baltimore, Chicago, New York City, and Los Angeles, crime rates are high and rising because criminals know that citizens cannot fight back.
Cesare Lombroso and Cesare Becaria, the founders of modern criminology said, more than two hundred years ago, based upon all their historical research, that nations which permit their citizens to own firearms enjoy low rates of crime because criminals are fearful of citizens who can defend themselves. But nations which deny their citizens the ability to keep arms suffer high rates of crime because criminals know they can prey on defenseless people with impunity.
You're spot on. Gun control increases crime by shifting the balance of power to the criminal, who knows he can prey on defenseless citizens without any fear of retaliation.
If one wants more crime, one needs only to ban guns. If one want less crime, liberalizing the gun laws is a good way to lower it.
John 8 years, 7 months ago
Maybe the commissioner needs to take a page out of the book of law enforcement in New York. Until recently crime, including murder was down substantially in this district. What the DA said was they stopped 'just arresting' the small criminal and street thug and gang member. They started to follow the money trail. When they hauled in these individuals for selling drugs, illegal gun possession, gang activity, stolen vehicles, etc., they would lea bargain with them until they found out which gang they were associated with, or who they bought their gun from, or who they were selling drugs for etc., By doing this they were able to dismantle some 97 (NINETY SEVEN) gangs in New York, arrest and charge numerous notorious and high profile criminals and get them hefty jail time. Once they cut the head off, the rest of the snake just withered and died and crime fell drastically. Wonder who would get caught up if a dragnet like that was set up here to track illegal guns and drugs.
John 8 years, 7 months ago
Then there was another strategy used in Florida some years ago to combat violent crime in that state. Remember when Bahamians were afraid to go to shop in Miami, because they were being robbed at gunpoint, their rental vehicles were being stolen and even hotel rooms were not safe. Well now many are afraid to return home (to Nassau) after shopping in Miami or elsewhere. Anyway they law went something like this, "If you use a weapon while committing a crime in the state of Florida, you get an automatic 5 year sentence. If you discharge the weapon, that's an automatic 10 years in jail. If you injure someone that's a 15 year to life sentence and if you kill someone, you get the DEATH penalty. Shortly after this law was enforced armed robberies in Florida dropped by more then 50 percent and even when persons committed robberies they used a fake gun or knife which deeply decreased the loss of life in these crimes. Since our major concern murder, not only must the penalty for murder be severe, but the detection rate and the conviction rate must be significant. If only for a short while
licks2 8 years, 7 months ago
Our COP is, in my opinion, directly responsible for the havoc on our streets with "unchallenged" gun carrying young men!
He can back and distribute fire arms for each citizen by changing the existing law. . .which restricts the citizen from having the means to defend self and fellow men while the lawless have an average of two guns per person!
The lawless are now roaming the street armed. . .shouting this or that gang name and openly letting law abiding citizens know that they rule the streets!! The police seem not to be able to do anything but shot-to-kill the few they encounter!!
THE POLICE CANNOT DEFENDD US AGAINST THE LAWLESS YOUNG MEN ROAMING OUR STREETS ARMED AND WITHOUT FEAR!!
IT IS TIME FOR OUR CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO BUY AND CARRY ARMS LEGALLY TO CONFRONT ANY LAWLESS PERSON WHO DARE ATTEMPT TO TAKE THEIR LIFE WANTONLY!!
THIS IDEA TIME HAS COME. . .THE LAWLESS WILL BE IN FEAR THAT IF THEY ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE ANY CITIZEN TO PUT THEM IN FEAR. . .HE OR HIS NIEGBOUR CAN AND WILL END THEIR LIFE ANY INSTANT!!
THIS COP WILL NOT EVEN AGREE FOR OFF DUTY POLICE OFFICERS TO HAVE FIRE ARMS!! THIS MAKES LITTLE SENSE. . .PUTTING HIS MEN AT RISK OR AT LEAST PREVENTING THEM FROM CONFRONTING PERSONS WHO ARE LIKLY COME FOR THEM OR THEIR FAMILY WHEN THEY ARE OFF DUTY AND UNARMED!
LAWLESS PERSONS CAN "GET THEM BACK" FOR DOING THEIR JOBS WHEN THEY GET OFF DUTY. . .BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE OFFICER WILL NOT BE ARMED!!
THIS WILL DISCOURAGE OFFICERS FROM "FOOLING" WITH THE LAWLESS WHILE ON DUTY BECAUSE LAWLESS WILL "GET" THEM BACK WHEN THEY ARE OFF DUTY AND UNARMED!!
SO MR. COP. . .PLEASE DON'T INSULT US WITH YOUR FAILURE TO PUSH BACK THIS FOUL SUNAMI OF VIOLANCE BY ARMED THUGS ON OUR STREETS!!
IT IS SIMPLE. . .THUGS HAVE GUNS APLENTY. . .THE POLICE ARE FEW. . .WE THE CITIZEN HAVE NO PERSONAL FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE!!! THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE GIVEN TO ALL SENIOR OFFICERS, INCLUDING THE COP AND MPS!! TO HELL WITH THE CITIZENS. . ."THEM SILLY IDIOTS WHO WILL GO AROUND SHOOTING EACH IF THEY ARE GIVEN FREE USE OF GUNS"!
IT IS THAT SIMPLE!!! IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE GOOD COP!! THE LAWLESS HAS OUTGUNNED YOUR GOOD OFFICERS. . .WHO NOW ARE AT RISK BECAUSE THE LAWLESS WILL NOT HESITATE TO GUN THEM DOWN FOR LITTLE REASON AS WELL WHILE OFF DUTY AND DEFENCELESS!!
BahamianFisherman 8 years, 7 months ago
The government really does need to allow Bahamians to carry guns and defend themselves because for whatever reason the police are not controlling the criminals .
All criminals think twice before they enter a home when they think the homeowner is armed , but that same person is helpless on the street when only criminals have guns .
It's a proven fact in The Bahamas that communities that are more armed get home invasion less .. Even though their a more valuable target
Legal Bahamian gun owners have proven themselves to be responsible and only use their guns in self defense .
But sadly the government is going hard in the wrong direction , they just tripled the Licence fee , making it more difficult for poor Bahamians ((who are most vulnerable )) to protect themselves .
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