The Tribune

By Nico Scavella

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

IN a bid to improve their public image, a team of police prosecutors held a toy drive and luncheon last week for over 80 children at the Bahamas AIDS Foundation.

A total of 86 children benefitted from last Wednesday’s initiative, according to Inspector Lakisia Moss, the chief welfare officer of the Police Prosecution Division.

The rationale behind such a move, according to Insp Moss, was to try and demonstrate to the public that despite their jobs as prosecutors, they are not persecutors, as some are inclined to believe.

She also said the initiative was in keeping with the Commissioner’s Policing Plan 2018, priority three, which endorses interaction with youth and young adults.

“As prosecutors, we are some of the last faces seen by either defendants or victims of crime during trial before justice is administered,” Insp Moss said. “In many cases, because of our job description, we are sometimes referred to as heartless, cruel, and insensitive to say the least.

“…As such, in an effort to demonstrate to society and minimise the stigma placed upon us by a few, we as members of the Police Prosecution Division, under the leadership of Superintendent Marlon Fullford have decided to embark upon a new initiative this year, hence giving back to the community and putting others before ourselves.”

Insp Moss said the idea was born after she approached Supt Fullford with the idea of “giving back” to the community. She said Supt Fullford was “enthused” about the idea and told her to “run with it.” A staff meeting was subsequently held at the Police Prosecution Division, and those in attendance voted unanimously in favour of the initiative.

Other police prosecutors who assisted in the initiative were Assistant Superintendent Barrington Miller; Sergeant 2790 Wynette McPhee; Sergeant 1772 Kesna Strachan; Sergeant 3272 Tameka Gibson; Corporal 582 Julius McPhee; Constable 2014 Casen Cooper; Constable 3381 Maurisa Harvey; Reservist Constable 1718 Michelle Sands as well as executive officer Sauleen Taylor-Smith.