Blackmoore stresses importance of community policing

new police station
The new police station costs over $2-million

National Security Minister, Rayburn Blackmoore, has said that although a construction of a new police station in Calibishie is an effort by government to provide effective and high quality policing, the importance of community policing cannot be underestimated.

Addressing a ceremony to commission the new police station on Wednesday evening, Blackmoore called on police officers there to make their presence felt in the community.

“You therefore need to find yourself where the people are; on the playing field, on the street corners at the bars, in the churches and on the beach,” he noted. “I mention these places not to recreate but so that your presence can be felt in the communities.”

He stated that he wants the new station to bring about a new thrust of community policing in the north-eastern part of the island.

“Whereas the notion that government must provide accommodation that lends to productivity, I want to emphasis here today that good accommodation by itself will not ensure efficient and top quality policing service,” Blackmoore said.

Housing Minister, Reginald Austrie, who represented Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, also called on the officers to go out there and ‘be on the beat.’

“I want to encourage the police to network with the community as well as other developmental partners operating in this area,” he remarked. “Know your youth development officer, your district development officer, know your welfare officer, your adult education officer, interface with your district medical officers and other health professionals in the district, liaise with your sports officers, principals of schools as well as your village councils, youth groups and other community based organizations in Calibishie and environs and representatives of development agencies shaping the future of these communities. Be an integral part of the development of the north of the country.”

He said none of this can be accomplished by simply staying “in this lovely building all day and waiting for a report.”

“Such partnerships can only be forged by being out there, so I call on you to be on the beat,” Austrie said. “Believe it, the nation’s security rests in your hands. Let us therefore use the tools that this government will continue to provide to you to make the communities of the north-east, and by extension Dominica, the safest place in the region.”

The new Calibishie Police Station is described as ‘state-of-the-art’ and costs over $2-million.

Eleven police officers, including two females, are presently stationed there.

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13 Comments

  1. SMH
    August 14, 2015

    We talk a lot in this country and I agree with the Minister. BUT!

    But as a concerned citizen who knows first had from experiences with the police, help is given to those who help themselves. So for that sake I have made a sacrifice and installed my own security cameras around my property. Better safe than sorry I say because if it is up to the police alone???…Hmm. God help us.

    If anything happens around me or my neighbors then I have a little evidence that can be used. I also know the law so no simple-minded police like the last time will tell me video evidence cannot be used. It is Electronic Evidence and we have IT experts who have already gone to court or swore affidavits as to the authenticity of this type of evidence. Other than that, we really need to be each others keeper like before when your neighbor would genuinely look out for the well-being of your child. Persons would be happy about it and not want to confront their neighbors for correcting their child.

  2. Anthony P. Ismael
    August 14, 2015

    I’m pretty sure that the “Domino Table and Sitting Stools” were already commissioned for that beautiful porch. It’s just a hunch.

  3. Heriones
    August 14, 2015

    we do not have community policing. We have sit in the station watching tv, cook food and drink rum policing. I cannot remember the last time i saw a police in uniform on foot patrol and it was not in Roseau.

    ridiculous

  4. Ex DA Law Man
    August 14, 2015

    The officers have to be comfortable.I get that.But why put a balcony on a police station close to the sea.It looks too relaxing for a police station.Also, I think it could be a security down the line.We need to think ahead and not just for the moment.The should be built according to the area.Every police station don’t have to be designed the same way.

  5. Ericson Robbing Sen
    August 14, 2015

    Community policing and you are geared at destroying the relationship between the people of Salisbury and the police?

  6. The Real Facts
    August 13, 2015

    The police must get out there, on the beat. Of course as assigned by their superior and to meet the people. Let them see your face and know who you are, especially the youths.
    Be pleasant but professional and you will command respect without having to request it.
    I am informing you, even those with criminal tendencies will cease them.
    Let us see what the future holds as you exercise your duties.
    Good luck and God bless and protect you!

  7. 4-cars
    August 13, 2015

    Hahahahaha……..Jokers

  8. BEB
    August 13, 2015

    I’m glad to know that the strength of the Calibishie Police Station is being increased to almost 400%. In the past , the staffs were 3 police officers, a corporal and 2 constables. Now with this existing strength, the villagers should get maximum assistance ,well ofcourse ,with the cooperation of the community.

  9. TRUEMAN
    August 13, 2015

    **********NOT JUST TALK BUT ACTION**********

    “You therefore need to find yourself where the people are; on the playing field, on the street corners at the bars, in the churches and on the beach,” he noted. “I mention these places not to recreate but so that your presence can be felt in the communities.”

    ……………………………….

    This “community policing” NEED to be part of a written POLICY. It should NOT be just an advice. If so nothing will change!!

    So I say to you Mr. Ministers, get the respective institutions, and people involve and come up with a written policy that will promote and sustain such a desire!!

    Thanks,

  10. grell
    August 13, 2015

    State of the art under my foot,PAINT THE POLICE STATION IN RED,IT WILL BETTER REPRESENT THE COMMUNIST COUNTRY DOMINICA HAS TURNED OUT TO BE.

  11. Positive vibes
    August 13, 2015

    Is it me or from what these guys saying it sounds like there’s no command at the stations? It’s the chief or commanders job to assign “beats” to the officers at start of their shifts. Every officer should have assignments and areas of patrol for the duration of his/her shift. There shouldn’t be no reason for it to be even mentioned that the officers should come out the $2 million dollar facility to….am just saying.

  12. Francisco Telemaque
    August 13, 2015

    “Addressing a ceremony to commission the new police station on Wednesday evening, Blackmoore called on police officers there to make their presence felt in the community.

    You therefore need to find yourself where the people are; on the playing field, on the street corners at the bars, in the churches and on the beach,” he noted. “I mention these places not to recreate but so that your presence can be felt in the communities.”

    Blackmoore; don’t you realize that what you are suggesting, or demanding from the police as quoted above has nothing to do with good policing? What you are suggesting is nothing more than police intimidation! First of all a bars are private property, and unless the police are called for a reason, or go to entertain themselves as a private citizen, they will be trespassing, especially if they are in uniform!

    Only in Dominica boy, only in Dominica.

    • Francisco Telemaque
      August 13, 2015

      “Addressing a ceremony to commission the new police station on Wednesday evening, Blackmoore called on police officers there to make their presence felt in the community.

      You therefore need to find yourself where the people are; on the playing field, on the street corners at the bars, in the churches and on the beach,” he noted. “I mention these places not to recreate but so that your presence can be felt in the communities.”

      You are now in the process of creating a police state; a playing field is supposed to be a place of recreation for young people, assuming children are there running track and field, or twenty-two boys are playing cricket, are you insinuating that the police should stand there and supervise the children or adults entertaining themselves?

      There can be security personal on a beach where tourist visits, but to suggest police go among people on the beach to make there presence felt is baloney; that is a very stupid comment you made! Police are called when…

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