Commissioner bans sale of alcohol to some officers

Commissioner of Police Keith Miller has banned the sale of alcohol to some police officers and directed that less liquor be sold at the canteen of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force in Kingstown.{{more}}

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a meeting of regional police welfare associations last Friday, Miller said he took this “drastic measure” after reviewing the canteen bill of some police officers.

He said he had received complaints from wives and girlfriends of police officers, and after reviewing the officers bills, to see what had caused an increase in the money spent in the canteen, he instructed the officer in charge of the canteen to sell more food and less liquor.

“So, the Commissioner, as the chairman of the Welfare Association must intervene and deal with that. So, because of that, more food is more sold in the canteen and less liquor,” he said.

As he addressed the gathering of regional law enforcement officers at the Murray Heights Hotel at McKies Hill, Miller also disclosed that there are some officers who have been banned from purchasing or consuming alcohol at the canteen.

“Those persons also, are on what is known as a ban list,” Miller said.

“If I do not deal with them, we would not have sober men to go and work, and it bothers me when members of our public call and say ‘Commissioner, I am not saying Constable X Y Z or Sergeant X Y Z is drunk, but he took a statement from me and his breath was smelling of strong alchohol’,” he disclosed.

“That’s embarasing, you know,” Miller said, adding that these are some of the welfare issues the Commissioner must deal with.

Miller said other changes have recently been implemented at the canteen to save the officers money.

According to the Commissioner, stocks for the canteen are now bought directly from suppliers, and they have got rid of the “middle man.”

“I had to ensure, because I didn’t like when I passed the canteen, everyday it look like a little mauby shop.

“The shelves are almost empty; we need food for our men to take home,” the COP said.

He explained that the police force had been buying items from traffickers, which were at a higher cost than if they were bought from the producers.

“So then, if we are selling cheaper, it means getting rid of the middle man. As a result of that, we are now buying most of our goods straight from Trinidad and we will be able to sell cheaper to our police men and women,” Miller stated.

With the new measures in place at the canteen, Miller said he has seen a turn around in the canteen and there are more goods on the shelves.