A little over a year after she was freed of a murder charge, Corporal Gemma Louis has been reinstated by the Police Service Commission (PSC) according to the Chairman of the Police Welfare Association (PWA) Jefferson Drigo.
He spoke at a press conference on Monday.
“We are extremely pleased and happy that Corporal Gemma Louis has been reinstated into the rank and file of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force…she is currently on vacation leave and will resume her duties upon her return to work,” Drigo said.
Corporal Louis, along with Delvin Challenger and Martin Seaman, were the last three charged for the murder of Joshua Ettiene who was found unresponsive in a police cell in Portsmouth after he was arrested in July 2014.
An autopsy on his body revealed serious injuries including several broken bones and a punctured organ, among others.
In April 2017, a Portsmouth magistrate ruled that the State had failed to establish a prima facie case against corporal Louis. However, he ruled that officers Delvin Challenger and Martin Seaman, were committed to stand trial for murder in the matter.
Drigo said that the police force and the PWA “stood with Corporal Gemma Louis” during her ordeal.
“We fought with her, we prayed for her, we prayed with her and we are very pleased, the police force is pleased that she is back,” he said.
Drigo also thanked the officials and the public for continuously supporting her and the Dominica Police Force.
“I want to thank the authorities, those who felt it fit to initiate her reinstatement and to instruct the relevant authorities of her reinstatement. And we would like to thank the public for supporting the cause and the police force,” he noted.
Drigo said the police force “loves the public”, and that they are “always willing to work for the public to protect life and to protect property.”
God knows the truth, what about the both officers behind bars are they not colleagues. There is blood over the hands who was involve.
what about the lives that have been destroyed by DRUGS…on whose hands the blood are?????????
Hmm isn’t that something. Police officer that is Surpose to be protecting life and community. That are taking one life in such brutal way. Are free in just less than one year. And back in the police force. I would surly file an apeal.
Are preparations being made to allow her to receive her salary for the length of time she was incaserrated , this is going to be o heafty backpay
I can remember this incident, Is it that the deceased was taken into police custody with his wounds due to where he was found prior to his arrest. Is it that martin and challenger were committed to stand trail because it is alleged that they were both in the station when the guy found unresponsive in the police cell or the evidence gathered were only base on them, if any. Well trust me, I do hope the investigators assigned to this matter wasn’t instructed to charge rather to investigate with an open mind. Because it will cost the state hundreds of thousand of dollars in my view.
Bro…according to your comment,should the police apprehend an individual with wounds, their first duty is to take that individual for medical treatment.
The officer was cleared of all charges and she should be reinstated. Somebody or somebodies have to pay for the death of the victim while in custody. The guy was brutally beaten unconscious and eventually died from this savagery meted out to him. Drigo said that the police force loves the public. If that is factually right, why do the police go to almost every minor protest with such a show of military might? The police force should be depoliticized and build trust with members of the community by engaging in community policing. Presenting the police force has a mammoth credibility problem.
What about your other colleagues who are on remand, are you not standing by them too?
Obviously they stand by all but if there is enough to hold them what do you expect to happen? They cant go against the law for you self to come back and talk.
I was thinking the same thing
When it comes to murder you have to prove the person responsible beyond reasonable doubt. As much as Ms Louis is unpopular we cannot confine her based on her past work ethics. I do hope a lesson was learnt by all.