The police force, a reflection of society?

Fri, May 18. 2012

For a few weeks now, there has been some public discussion about the recruitment policy for entry into the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force. This discussion was perhaps fuelled by Mr. Reuben John, a stalwart of the local and regional Credit Union Movement, and Senior Partner in the accounting firm KPMG, when he addressed a passing out parade for new recruits recently.{{more}}

Mr. John, himself a former police officer, expressed the opinion that there ought to be more stringent procedures followed in recruiting members for the Force. This statement may have been triggered by several transgressions by police officers resulting in criminal procedures against them on a range of charges including murder, assault and theft.

Extensive coverage of these incidents in the media has fuelled strong public outcry and almost inevitably, the issue of recruitment has been brought into focus. In his address to the new officers, Mr. John suggested that the Police Force should go beyond background checks and in screening potential recruits, also include assessments of their “character, etiquette, habits and self-esteem”.

However Police Commissioner Keith Miller has made it clear that a “rigorous vetting process” is followed in recruiting police officers. These include requiring the aspiring recruits to provide testimonials, community checks and academic and psychological testing.

While the number of reported incidents of police transgressions may seem alarming, it is important that we maintain a proper perspective on them. Firstly, the expansion of media coverage and especially the interactive media, means that there is bound to be far more reporting on any alleged incident. Then, there has been, as a result, greater pressure on the Force to investigate such reports and to take action. In the past, there was greater reluctance to own up to such wrongdoing and even attempts to “hush up” and cover up. Remnants of this still remain, as is demonstrated by hostility shown by some members of the Force to media practitioners who try to bring these wrongs to the public knowledge.

So, even though public pressure may have been responsible, and in spite of worrying inconsistencies such as the re-hiring of convicted officers, the Police Force must be complimented for taking steps in the right direction. Commissioner Miller himself has not shied away from public admonishments of errant officers. This is important since it must be made absolutely clear, to the public, and to the police officers themselves, that the Police must not be perceived to be beyond the pale of the law.

The vast majority of police officers are decent, law-abiding citizens, but it is the “bad eggs” (to use the term popularized by a former Commissioner), who tarnish the reputation of the Force, as such recalcitrant persons do to any institution. Commissioner Miller reminded us in an interview last week that the police officers are drawn from the society, with all its traits, good and bad. He also intimated that when unsuitable persons are recommended by members of the community, the community pays the price.

While that is true, and while we agree with Commissioner Miller that residents should be as candid as possible when asked about the character of applicants to the force, he must also know that what we expect of a disciplined organisation like the Police Force is for it to help to reshape, change positively, inspire and improve the raw and imperfect product that society offers it. No young man or woman, who has entered the Force for the right reasons, should remain the same way they entered. From the example, training and counsel of more senior officers as well as the ethos of the organization, the Force should succeed even where society has failed.

We do not expect perfection, and they will not always be successful in their quest, but this should be their goal.