Crime is the biggest challenge for the Dominica Police Department and recently appointed Acting Police Commissioner Cyril Carrette says it is time civil society come on board.
According to the new top cop, the police are usually at the bottom of the spectrum of crime prevention, with civil society at the top. Carrette says he will intensify operations to better tackle issues of drugs, gun crimes and the fact that “the people are becoming more violent”.
To achieve these objectives Carrette says the input of civil society is paramount.
“If society plays its part I think that can go a long way,” he said. “Prevention we know helps significantly because if you can prevent then there will be nothing to detect.”
@Desy: at least in little words u admitted that you got the point and Desy you dont need to use more than one heading/name to make your point, it is not a popularity contest. And I also thank God for DNO to allow you to vent your irresponsible statements on a regular basis, just remember if you have kids, they learn and want to do and behave like their father especially boys.
No Disrespect to Acting Police Commissioner Cyril Carrette – But Dominica police Department have serious issues. I spend a summer in Portsi. Some Parro was beating a woman with a stick and cursing and swearing profusely as he demanded what she did with his F*%#king Cocaine. The confrontation was pissing off my son and he keep on saying Dad call the police. (he was 10) That’s when my frustration started – I call the police repeatedly for over thirty minutes, while that woman got blows. I finally had to confront the partner myself, risking my life for the police inability to protect and serve. Later, we walk down to the Station on Bay Street – a lone police was on duty – he ignore us as he spoke on the phone – finally I said excuse me, I have be trying to call the station to report a crime, when you are there tying up the line on personal business (I could tell from the conversation). He immediately got irritated and responded – “Can’t you see am on the phone” To which I responded “Talking crap to some f*#k*^g Batch” The guy could care less. we didn’t even care I used profanity myself. That’s when we just turn around and left.
Here is how I see it
Now, since Dominica is drifting more into the American Sphere of influence, we need an American approach to this problem
1.The police (some) in Dominica don’t know or is incapable of doing their Job. OMG continuing training – every two years at a minimum.
2. There should be a central number to call, where someone/Dispatcher must respond to your call 24/7 – Criminals don‘t sleep.
3. We should set up well armed – “National Police” – An American Style State Troopers Unit — who would respond quickly to call violent confrontations. Set up four stations – Marigot , Portsmouth, Roseau, Grandbay.
4. Security Guards in Roseau have more equipment on than the police. Equipped the Police with at least, radio capability.
5. Now there are so many Dominican Social Organizations out there in the Diaspora, it time we form a “FRIENDS OF DOMINICAN POLICE FORCE” to help fund this poorly equipped sorry bunch of cowards who swear under oath to Serve and Protect us.
well said jane,you should be given the position of police pro
Aha!!!!! There goes contradicting responses to my postings.Thanks DNO for allowing “some of the few airheads” full access to air out.
There goes someone contradicting their own responses to my postings!!!!!!How funnier can one get?
Guess some” couyons”will always be no matter what.Simply stated language and facts and “some” persons still have difficulty understanding.Thanks DNO for allowing the “few” nincompoops out there the privilege to air out.
Re my last post, the lady had to call somebody on her phone who got a set of paros to get the man out of her porch, while the police waiting for TRANSPORT. bay street to harbour land? MAGWAY SAR!
How can civil society be more helpful when the police excuse is WE DONT HAVE TRANSPORT. The police station is on baby street in portsmouth, they get a call from harbour land and they cannot come to investigate because they do not have transport? suppose the young lady living by herself did not have burglar bars on her windows do you know that he man in her porch could have gotten in and raped and murdered her while you all wait for “transport?” did you all have transport years ago when the older policemen use to beat bush for miles to help citizens? MR CARRETTE, PLEASE INVESTIGATE BEFORE FURTHER ACTION IS TAKEN AGAINST YOUR POLICE FORCE!
@Desy: Well well well- you start being constructive now that someone comented on what you call constructive criticism. Did that get you mad? or did you feel uncomfortable? i only wanted you and some other Dominicans to understand that the police officers of this island are doing wonderful job. You vote all different political parties and instead of adderessing the whole situation on the law makers and people in office who can recruit more police officers you people just keep banging on the officers who day in day out forget their families making sacrifices to uphold the laws of this country. Are you aware that there are police officers who on a regular basis work 19 and 20 straight days before returning home to their families and loved ones?
Unlike you who have the opportunity to be out there with so much time to come out there making negative statements at them on a regular basis. They are human and no matter how strong they are if you people continue to bring them down all the time they will eventually crack and you will be rejoicing to the expense of the general public. I will also say to you that statistic show that at least 20 police leave the police force per year on average, so sit there and think that it is so nice in there. Correct me if am wrong Dominica is the only state without a defence force or army in the world. can you imagine that our police men are both our soldiers and local police and have a strength of 400 men to police 70,000 people at an average of about 175 persons per police?
am not saying there is not room for improvement but come on go easy on these dedicated officers.
The Dominican society may eventually have to take some tips from a Mexican community that could not take it any more. Here’s what happened….
I was listening to a story about a ‘small community (about 20,000)’ in Mexico where there was a series of kidnapping. When the people find that the law enforcement was a sub-standard job, they took matters into their own hands. One girl was kidnapped and about 200+ villages chase down the criminals and beat them badly. Eventually, the police rescue the criminals and took them to prison, the people break prison, and beat the criminals some more, then they locked them in a vehicle in the hot sun, where they eventually expired. I am sure the others will think before they kidnap another person.
I was overjoyed to hear this story. I was thinking, that is what Dominicans need to do with the criminals if our law enforcement is not punishing them enough. I am fed up with a little slap on the wrist for people who brutally hurt another person. Mr. PM, Mr. Carette, Magistrates, and the government of Dominica, stop being soft of criminals! Or we the people will take matters in our own hand. We are fed up of being intimidated by those criminals who think that they could hurt people, and just walk away. Do something, and do it now! But you know what, before they turn criminals, help the future generation – start in the schools – come up wit some program. For heaven sake, do something! And lastly, support Magistrate Tiyani – most non-criminals love him.
Cyril Carrette needs to understand that HIS view of the policing system is very different from that of the D/can population.
Firstly, Mr Carrette is obviously unaware of the actual deficiency of our judicial system. I called the police headquarters just last week asking for a vehicle to be sent out to investigate some illegal activity near my house. I called at 4:00am. At 9:00am the police still had not shown up. I had to then call Mr Carrette himself to request that this matter be dealt with. FINALLY SOMEONE SHOWED UP AT 10:00
Now tell me. Honestly… Isn’t that enough reason for everybody in D/ca to go get their own gun?
OUR POLICE OFFICERS CANNOT DEFEND US!
You have to defend yourself… you don’t even think about calling the police anymore because you know you will not get the response you desire. So, we have increased violence. People are taking matters into their own hands…
Mr Carrette, do your job…. and tell your officers to do their jobs… and maybe then D/cans will trust the police enough to begin working with them to protect our communities.
Until then, the responsibility leans on YOU.
@ Jane
I did not realize that not putting my real name made me a coward?
Are you really Jane or are you using a pseudonym too?
Are you one of the culprits in disguise?
Are some police friends at your beck and call?
Get real.So post your full name ,address,telephone numbers,give your life history too if you care to,so the whole world can know who you are.WHAT THE HECK!!! I don’t care.I don’t need to know who you are.I’m for constructive criticism and that’s what I’ll give.This is happening whether you choose to admit it or not.
Does the word”some” have any meaning to you?
Well,thank God no police officer has ever been shot and maybe they do not have anything for people to steal.Guess you would know.Enlighten the reading public.
When public meetings to address these issues are held then,I guess you’ll know who can or cannot talk.
@Desy: Continue that bulls… of blaming everything on police but i have a few questions for you. (1). how often u hear they kill a police? (2). how often do they burglarise police officers home? and 3. if you know so much of the wrongdoings of police officers and can only share them behind closed doors and programs where you remain anonemous, are you better than them or you just anothe person who hates what the law stands for.
Mr. Carette Sir, you hit the nail on the head. However, it would help greatly if the police have a website where those of us with access to information can go and post where only you and selected people can see the information. The publice have been burnt by some of the same officers they trusted with critical information. If you need a content sample for the website, go to the Royal St. Lucia Police Force website and you will see how it is done. We can make upgrades to better suit of situation. The CDPF needs to take advantage of the cyber world in an effort to fight crimes.
I can assure that this site will help you not only in crime fighting but as a management tool. While at it, please organize a massive media awareness blitz and to change the public’ perception of the police. We need to start from scratch by sending officers to schools at all levels especially in the high schools at the 4 & 5th form levels where we have young adults on their way into the workforce etc. A good start would be discussion on Cap.53 0f DRL of 1961 since it is the most violated chapter of on the law books. Most other major crimes committed is preceeded with a crime under this act. Please sir, hear the cry of a law abiding citizen. You can do it if you try.
I think Carrette really wanted to say community policing – (everyone looking out for each other). This would mean educating our community on the triggers of crime, identify the perpetrators and implement ways of mitigating these criminal activities.
Yes, the police plays a major role in all of this, but now is not the time to highlight any setbacks. It is time to rally as a united force and an Island to take back our communities and Island from the evil that is bent on crippling the Nature Island. Without the assistance of the citizens peace and tranquility cannot prevail.
God Bless Dominica!
Mr.Carrette should realize that even though persons want to help the police, when it’s the polices’ time to help they shirking their responsibilities.For one the phone lines are always busy.They are quick to say so and so told me.No one likes to feel betrayed and have to look over their shoulder because an officer doesn’t uphold the code of ethics-never reveal the source of your information.Some of them blatantly ignore what they see going on and/or pick on those they can walk over. Do you know some of the responses you get when you need them?
1.WE DO NOT HAVE TRANSPORT.
2.FOR THAT YOU CALLING?
3.ME ALONE THAT IN THE STATION.
4.WE SLEEPING ALREADY(WHEN YOU GO TO KNOCK ON THE DOOR AT 9:00,THEY CLOSE ALREADY)
Now I don’t know the reason for such attitude, but you should first try to find out and weed the force of the ills that you are able to and then ask for citizens to co-operate with the police.
Do they not feel inclined to cherish and do their work because of one or more of the following?
1.THEY ARE NOT BEING WELL PAID
2.THEY JUST DON’T CARE ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THOSE ENTRUSTED IN THEIR CARE.
3.THEY ARE THERE JUST BECAUSE THEY WANTED A JOB(COULD FIND NOTHING ELSE TO DO)
4.THEY WERE GIVEN A JOB
5.THEY ARE BEING PASSED OVER FOR PROMOTION, WHEN THOSE WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED ARE FLYING UP THE LADDER (although we know that there are those lazy ones who do not care if they are promoted or not as long as they are getting paid).
We are well aware that in some communities ,all the officers do is play dominoes and cards and take the longest afternoon naps.They ignore persons when they come to make reports.When told that they will be reported to their supervisors (Portsmouth or police headquarters)the complainants are sometimes threatened.
The same transport they do not have is seen going by the girlfriends home or running errands for good friends, but they cannot come to help to take a sick child to the health centre or at their home,nor can they come when a report is made.
So tell me Mr. Commissioner, who is at fault here?Can you blame the public for not being the watchdog of the community?
It’s only when “CERTAIN” things happen that some officers act like it’s their “job” not their duty to be there.
I STILL SAY KUDOS TO THOSE WHO SEE THEIR WORK AS A PROFESSION AND CONTINUE TO UPHOLD THE PEACE AND LOOKING OUT FOR THOSE WHOM THEY PLEDGED TO PROTECT!!!!!!
MR Winston with due respect hope you`re not living under a rock and if you are you are not safe from there; the point is, yes! we have some slack police officers and thats the case the World over in any law enforcement agency or for that matter in any large organization. Surfice it to say the concept of policing got to change it`s long over due and my hope is the new ACTING top cop will take note and move to tap theright persons with a view to revolutionize our police force ie lets stop that maundane approach to our beloved police force like any organization change has to come from within politics has no place in our police force the commissioner started on the right note, Re vamp the force move all the dead and slackers to areas where they are more suited that is on the beat patrolling in uniform and engaging the public be the mirror of the force. { 2] all over the world other police forces try to be a step or two ahead of the bad guys i know man power and money is always our excuse while the criminals are well funded and backed by the likes of them we cannot approach things half way bearing in mind like it or not we only have a police force with a few of our men and woman with special training i am afraid we have not yet been tested and we should not wait for that to happen. Bring back our police week in a big way to foster a better relationship with the public. Esprit de corps is at its lowest stage and continues to be erroded because in some cases the politics and back stabing that takes place in the force i dare to say it is a problem we have been dealing with from way back in time . I recall the days when the police and the public had a strong bond certain criminals used to arrest other criminals caught in the act of commiting crimes some may say things have changed but i beg to differ there`s no reason why we cannot return to those days. The police force is too stagnant doing the same predictable things all the time making it too easy for the criminals to be always ahead of our law men please try some thing new develop and train some of our police officers to be vice squad officers use our undercover officers more effectively allow them to wear dread locks walk the streets as parrows it takes a thief to catch a thief we all agree presence is key to crime prevention nothing wrong if our officers show ing off some of our toys you know what i mean i could go on and on but i will rest my case for now lets have our suggestions geared towards the police administration with aview to changing the way the police does their job . Remember they cannot fire the whole police force and we cannot retire all our most exprienced officers cause we will be left with too many inexprience officers therefore we have to improve on what we have they are our brothers and sisters cousins,aunts ect,ect, In closing that might rub some people the wrong way but its time that some of our police officers carry departmental issued fire arms not in all cases but understand the bad guys are armed to their teeth at all times so too should be our police officers. JUST IMAGINE DOMINICA BECOMING A STATE WHERE CRIME IS THE ORDER OF THE DAY? MAN! WE have to fight fire with more fire i would rather live in a police state than the former.
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@T. Winston: Lol, very funny… But on a serious note, you a very right. This is a serious issue with our police here in Dominica. They never have vehicle, but everyday you see a new big mamma police vehicle on the streets of Roseau.
Of course crime is the biggest challenge, what else are police for
Society has lost interest in calling police officers who claim not to be able to assist yet from the minute a gun or drugs is involved they magically appear. This is a grave issue as police are often called during the inception of a problem but refuse to get involved until the problem escalates to something much much worse.
There was 1 incident where a man called police (No name no warrant…) to state that somebody was in his garage stealing and police responded by saying they didn’t have transport, the man called back 5 minutes later and told them to take their time he shot the man and police were there to catch the thief in less than 15 minutes. the office tell the man he though he say he shoot him, the man tell police he thought they didn’t have transport
WHY NOT GIVE REWARDS TO THE RATS.
Good idea, However it will only work when the public has trust in the police and entire legal system and they know their life will not be at risk for giving info.
With the way they letting murderers, armed robbers and kiddnappers walk free it will be a hard sell. The legal system has to first get tough and the police has to protect its law abiding citizens at all cost.
dat iz so true … but everybody in Dominica kno sumbody dat kno sumbody and dey doh want sumbody to kno dat sumbody find out dey snitch on de oda sumbody.. a crazy form of loyalty i guess…