COP explains his decision to reinstate convicted police officers

Despite having criminal records, Police Commissioner Keith Miller’s decision to reinstate the three police officers who were convicted of assault was based on the men’s history before conviction.{{more}}

“I looked at the past history of the men, their conduct, their ability to work, their loyalty to the organisation, their respectfulness and character on and off the job,” said Miller to SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday, May 3.

Corporal Kasanki Quow along with Constables Hadley Ballantyne and Osrick James returned to active duty on, April 20, 2011, after being convicted on February 2, 2010, on charges of assault and causing actual bodily harm to Jemark Jackson.

The men were reinstated under Cap 280, Section 25, of the Police Act.

On November 18, 2008, Jackson was arrested and taken to the General Office of CID. In court, Jackson testified that two officers held his feet and hands, while another beat him with a hose. Jack also said he was kicked about his body and slammed three times on the floor before being hospitalised, causing him to be in a coma for a week.

“The men are good men really and with this type of job you will make mistakes,” Miller said. When asked if he trusted the men even though they admitted in court they lied to their superiors, Miller responded by saying: “If I didn’t trust them I wouldn’t have reinstated them.”

Officer Ballantyne admitted to the court that he had given two different statements in the matter. He noted that the first was a random report and the second was under oath. He further stated that although he took the oath to speak the truth, he said things that were untrue, even though he knew it is an offence to do so.

James also admitted that he had lied about a statement that he wrote on November 21, 2008. He told the court he had lied to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Willisford Caesar because the report was written three days after he was asked to write it, and he had written something that was untrue.

Miller’s decision to reinstate the men has been met with heated criticism from the public during the past two weeks.

One such critic is Jackson’s lawyer, Jomo Thomas. Thomas, in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT said he was of the belief that Miller’s decision was based on the fact that because Jackson was a “nobody”, the men were reinstated.

Miller, however, wholly refutes Thomas’ claim.

The COP said he wrote to the Attorney General to get a proper interpretation of Chapter 25, in order to ensure he was fully covered under the Police Act. He added that he held discussions with senior police officers who also agreed that the men should be reinstated.

“It is unfortunate what Mr.Thomas said. Jemark Jackson is of such importance that the allegation was made; the matter was investigated; the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) prosecuted the matter and the men were convicted. Would you call Jemark Jackson a nobody? Do you think if he was a nobody all this interest would have been taken in this?” Miller questioned.

“If Jemark was seen as a nobody his rights would have been ignored,” the COP contended.

Thomas was also of the opinion that Miller’s decision was giving other police officers the green light to act with impunity.

Miller also refuted this.

“Well I hope there is no policeman is of that notion because they will be dead wrong. Mr.Thomas is wrong here again. No policeman will ever believe that because of the men’s reinstatement it gives them the authority to be abusive,” Miller stated.

If the men were rogue and “no good” police officers, Miller disclosed that he wouldn’t even have written to the Attorney General for interpretation of the law.

A stern warning was also issued to police officers by Miller for them to act within the confines of the law. Miller says he does not want lawmen to feel because the three men were reinstated, that they now can commit themselves; get convicted and reinstated.

Miller said Quow, Ballantyne and James, now have to disprove people of their bad character. “People are saying they have a bad character and they have to disprove them and show the public that, ‘look! I am a good; hardworking policeman; you can continue putting your case for me to investigate and I will investigate it honestly’,” Miller said.

When he met with the men on April 19, Miller said he told them it was an unfortunate case where the allegation was proven and that they must be careful in the exercise of their duty from now.