(DNO) Efforts by the Dominica Police Force to control crime and violence in Dominica could receive a boost with the recruitment of new officers.
Deputy Police Chief Cyril Carrette says new police officers are currently being recruited.
“It is becoming very busy based on the activities that are taking place. We are hoping that we will have an intake of officers to assist us in the work that we are doing. The government has given us an additional 50 police officers which will make our total to 494,” he said.
The recruits will commence training shortly, he said.
boss lemme tell you…is a whole set of frustration alone that in that force..canna mean to tell me a man that have like two measly years in the force getting a promotion and a man that there for 18years and goin not gettin any….crap..how u encouraging man to work when you doin that???
i’m still waiting for the ok.. yet nothing instead the ones who does drugs are selected.. thats life
With all due respect,to the office,the police force are just a bunch of jokers. Too much politics,and some of them are just sing and sing for their supper.In the days of O N P…..that was abunch of respected men and women so its pointless asking for 50 more.To do what ?. To help the politicians . Tell the government that they can use that money to train that same amount in different aspect of the job.Eg crime sence invest. Dna,and let the police themselves have their own lab….thanks..
I support this to a certain extent but we must realize that crime is not strictly a problem for Dominica only.The training definitely needs to upgrade and i think that man power is also a subject for discussion.The question is out of the fifty new recruits ,how many are going to remain.I speak from experience: being a police officer for fifteen years trained in Barbados to work for another country,when i was in Dominica i did not have such vision.In order to keep the officers in the force,they need to motivate them so they would be encourage to stay…..
In all due respect i dont think Dominica needs any new recruits ,what i do think would act in the best interest of the Police force and general public is a Police Officer upgrade..instead of recruiting 50 new officers take 50 of those officers that are already enlisted and organize some kind of training such as Crime Scene Investigation , DNA sampling and Analysis, Fingerprinting Analysis to name a few that i think will boost the effectiveness of the Police Force and also the moral of the Officers already there that way we would see people actually joining the Police Force in order to make a difference in society today rather than using the Police Force as a stepping stone for higher heights in Agencies outside of Dominica or as a last effort of finding gainful employment just my 2 cents from what i manage to see from my minds eye
Where are you gonna house them? i thought u guys had a police housing crisis?
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I do hope that with the new (hopefully real) campaign the Gov’t wants to undertake against noise polution that they deploy at least some of these new recruits and othes come up with a law enforcement strategy to police and stop all the stadium strength loud music particularly in Granbay.
Then again, the chief or deputy chief has already given up, thrown his hand in the air saying if people doe come and report these noise poluters and bear witness there’s nothing they can do. Case close!
As a young lady growing up in the area and going to dances, enjoying music in the 80’s I never seen such disrespect for the law. The police even stop and listen to the loud music, drink rum and make drinks for by standers and noise poluters, shopkeepers, witness the crime themselves and say they need somebody to report it. Who are these chiefs and deputy chiefs man?
Can you imagine stadium quality sound system setup 24/7 by de road, loud as a m*^ck*er, the police drive by at 11 PM, midnite or 1:30 AM, wave at the noise poluters, make drink, conversation; and then drive off, then say they need people to report it or case close…nothing they can do? F*c^k!
Well it happens in Grandbay, how much will these police be worth to the victims?
All of the high ranking officers should be retired and a New foreign commissioner should be brought in. Presently there is no officer in the Dominica Police force or any resident Dominican worthy of the top JOb in the force. THey can add a thousand new recruits and we will continue to have the same problem …
This is ABSOLUTELY disrespectful & ridiculous. Of course we have people capable of the top job. Stop insulting “our own”…
Vanessa I was much impressed by your contribution to this article. I do think that you should be considered a possible advisor to our local police force. You would definitely do a better job than some of these special advisors we have in certain ministries that sit their a@# down and get paid to give terrible advice.
We as people must learn to agree to disgree, right? Well on that note, the only point which you brought up that I oppose is that of the police officers doing side jobs as hired body guards. Not all those concerned misuse their authority. Considering the state of affairs with the rising cost of living and all, everyone needs to do something LEGAL “on the side” to supplement his/her income. To some of these officers, its a mere side gig. I admit that there are others who use their positions as officers to command respect and to instill fear.
By the way, when are we going to start arming our officers 24/7 so they can confront the challenges of this century. The days of the baton as the preferred mechanism for self defense are over. Give every officer his gunbelt! If needed, train him on when and how to use deadly force according to the force’s policy if there is one. Drug dealers know that they will not be confronted by officers who fear for their lives knowing that the dealers carry some serious pow-pow. If the officers cannot protect themselves them how can they protect us. We can increase the numbers all we want but as long as we train and equip the officers like we are still in 1950 nothing will change. There are lots of qualified (degreed) people out there but they will not join because its getting too dangerous and the garbadine gang still running the force like its the person playground rather than a disciplined, professional organization.
Case in point, recently two of the hardest working degreed corporals in traffic were skipped for promotion and it was given to someone less qualified because he campaigned openly for the party in power. Also, some applicants were disqualified for acceptance because supporters of the party in power who were less qualified needed the jobs. Every minister calling PHQ with the candidate they want on the force as payback. Major changes are need in the force and no one within the upper ranks ( superintendent and above) now have the testicular fortitude to make them or tell the government the truth on the current state of the force. If I was the PM out of the current bunch Mr. Weekes would be my Commissioner and Mr. Carbon (ASP) would be my deputy with now retired Superintendent Mr. Alfred as special advisor.(brought back on contract). Retire all them political jokers we have in the upper ranks for lack of progress. Sadly, Mr. Egbert Alfred would have been the best man for the job but he is not a politician so he will never be considered.
Too many allegations of corruptions are plaguing the force these days with no follow up investigations. “Some” of the allegations can be proven quite easily by a commission of enquiry. However, the upper echelon are too concerned about the possible negative impact that would have on their career therefore the cancer is being left to fester.
Our Police force have more press confrences than the government and opposition put together…LOL… Look it!
I think what Vanessa has said is definitely the way to go! There is absolutely nothing additional to be added!
The bottom line : REGIONALIZE THE POLICE FORCE!!
I think they say politicians steal the chief tongue or maybe he gone moomoo to save his face. Matter of fact, people are not even aware we have a chief of police. All they hear, see, know and embrace is Mr.Carrette.
Now I hope those recruits selected this time are not “POLITICAL SELECTIONS”. Ministers must stop telling the chief who to take and who is not affiliated with the ruling party so they MUST be denied. Policing and politics does not mix.
There is the ACP Conference currently taking place in the USVI
What quality of police officer are we really expected to get from the very narrow and shrinking pool of human resources in Dominica. In in a case such as ours where many (NOT ALL) of our police officers are chosen from a pool of questionable characters, from unmotivated, un-ambitious population of wayward youth. Many of us know that most of the young men if they finish school at all, are involved in gangs, peddle drugs, chose not to work a 40 hour job, do drugs of some sort. And with that in mind, what level of police officers are we to expect?
Those who would be perfect candidates do not want this line of work. They aspire to better field of study. So we’re limited. Our (secondary and tertiary) educated, motivated, positive thinking men or women do not want to be police officers. While there are a few honorable recruits for these positions, the bad apples spoils the whole bunch for me. Because, when it comes down to dealing with these officers, well, they are not dealt with.
The low level of our police force standards is seen daily in the, tardiness of officers, the poor conduct, and the blatant abuse of the power WE bestow on them.
In every department of the police force in Dominica, there are many officers who effectively and creatively, use their high level of ignorance and lack of common sense to bring normal processes to a grinding halt, and in some cases, use the system to their own means.
Mind you the system needs to be reviewed, but when you incompetent persons to do an already difficult task, what would the end result be?
These are the persons representing the law. Many of the men on our force abuse their positions daily and hide behind the protection of the government (their employers) and the commissioner who does nothing about the complaints brought against the police officers. Too often in cases brought against police officers for wrong doing- police brutality, and other offences WHILE ON THE JOB, the offending officers go unpunished, and in fact they are sometimes rewarded by the system. Where is the justice in that?
Who is really protecting us? Are we protected at all?
Police officers use their position for their own personal use: they work on the side as hired body guards, they are used by their friends to victimized enemies, to threaten people. Most people in Dominica do not know that it is ILLEGAL for a police officer to actively threaten under the guise of the badge, and illegal for him to threaten any action against you. A complaint must be filed with the police and the police must investigate. This constitutes unlawful intimidation.
Anyways, for these and many other reasons, I do not think that adding more bad to a system already in need of fixing, is going o fix anything at all.
Bravo!!! tell them again. I have seen first hand how ignorant these Police officers are. With a high school diploma and no other training besides the training running up and down that hill they think they know it all. These officers need more training in dealing with people first. Threat of force is illegal and abuse of power is illegal. but who do they answer to?
Oh My dear, I agree with you, these views you have should be fowarded to the minister responsible for national security. They are solid and positive views, if we can see some reform in line with what you suggested I believe we would be solving a significant chunk of our problems with the police force. I myself de way de police operating, I doh trust not one…. these days it doh have much difference between police and criminal, those that upholding de law is de same set that molesting, wife beating and protecting drug lords…..I rather trust my Koutlah….now tell dem voleh to come….or a aveyol or dealer to pass by my chile….
What quality of police officer are we really expected to get from the very narrow and shrinking pool of human resources in Dominica. In in a case such as ours where many (NOT ALL) of our police officers are chosen from a pool of questionable characters, from unmotivated, un-ambitious population of wayward youth. Many of us know that most of the young men if they finish school at all, are involved in gangs, peddle drugs, chose not to work a 40 hour job, do drugs of some sort. And with that in mind, what level of police officers are we to expect?
Those who would be perfect candidates do not want this line of work. They aspire to better field of study. So we’re limited. Our (secondary and tertiary) educated, motivated, positive thinking men or women do not want to be police officers. While there are a few honorable recruits for these positions, the bad apples spoils the whole bunch for me. Because, when it comes down to dealing with these officers, well, they are not dealt with.
The low level of our police force standards is seen daily in the, tardiness of officers, the poor conduct, and the blatant abuse of the power WE bestow on them.
In every department of the police force in Dominica, there are many officers who effectively and creatively, use their high level of ignorance and lack of common sense to bring normal processes to a grinding halt, and in some cases, use the system to their own means.
Mind you the system needs to be reviewed, but when you incompetent persons to do an already difficult task, what would the end result be?
These are the persons representing the law. Many of the men on our force abuse their positions daily and hide behind the protection of the government (their employers) and the commissioner who does nothing about the complaints brought against the police officers. Too often in cases brought against police officers for wrong doing- police brutality, and other offenses WHILE ON THE JOB, the offending officers go unpunished, and in fact they are sometimes rewarded by the system. Where is the justice in that?
Who is really protecting us? Are we protected at all?
Police officers use their position for their own personal use: they work on the side as hired body guards, they are used by their friends to victimized enemies, to threaten people. Most people in Dominica do not know that it is ILLEGAL for a police officer to actively threaten under the guise of the badge, and illegal for him to threaten any action against you. This is unlawful intimidation.
Anyways, for these and many other reasons, I do not think that adding more bad to a system already in need of fixing, is going o fix anything at all.
Before I start addressing the problems, let me offer a solution to the many issues I will raise.
I think our views on recruiting should change, in fact a better solution to the problem s facing all our sister islands is to:
Create a Caribbean Police Force (made up of existing police officers and new recruits). These police officers MUST go through screening and background checks, they will be properly trained, there will specialized units, (drugs, immigration, firearms, domestic affairs, etc.) These police officers will serve primarily on islands other than their home country. Their services will be rotated every three 6 month through the islands, that way a few things are accomplished:
• we are not forcing our citizens to be policed by their friends and neighbors
• the policing process will be a lot less biased, unprejudiced form of policing.
• They do not spend too much time to get familiar, constraining them to work at high levels of efficiency in short spaces of time
• it will create a more unified police force, implementing modern processes and procedures and techniques that are synonymous across the boards.
• It will work in sync with the one CARICOM agenda.
• One police force, one set of rules that apply across the board.
On a local level, we should engage in mandatory conscription: a newly defined Compulsory civil and military service.
This will apply to any minor over the age of 12 who is born in Dominica, who is NOT gainfully employed or Not enrolled in any educational school or program.
The goal of the program will be to offer basic training, skills training, disciplinary training (MUCH NEEDED, as POSSIBLE SOLUTION).
These recruits will be bound to live on a campus during week, and on weekends will be allowed to return to homes. If they do not comply their PARENTS (whose duty it is to ensure education of their children or civic duty) will be penalized. That forces the parents to be responsible one way or the other. (Part of the Solution to problem)
Instead of our young men sitting on the sidewalks, drinking, smoking, doing drugs, vandalizing, and engaging in other types of criminal activity, it will be an option. These recruits will have the option of either enrolling in school, or working to get out of the program, or be then recruited into the Caribbean or local police force, or other skilled level jobs.
Of course it is a program that requires much though and planning, but I have done some of both, and I think it is a possible solution to the major social issues we and other islands are having.
Now onto what I think is a laughable state of police affairs. And while there may be some credit due to some officers, the bad outweighs the good in this writing.
We need at least 1,500 officers on the force as well as auxillary police officers to man outlying stations while regular officers are out on patrol. The coast guard also needs to be strengthened both man power and patrol craft.
Let’ s not wait for what is going on in Jamaica to reach our shores before we act. Lets be proactive not reactive. There are serious lessons to learnt from the situation in Jamaica.
I can say that i fully agree with you on that.
why is it that we only hear about the deputy Chief and we never hear about the Chief?
this is all talk about recruiting, i know someone who love police work but for years he has applied but to no response, DO YOU KNOW WHY? 21 constiuencies and they only take about 35 to 40 persons, DO THE MATHS !
Well in terms of an increased pay, the COP can only make such a request to government who will then look into the matter.
De more all you recruit is de more policemen will leave…raise de pay and stop frustrating your police officers, maybe they might stay.