Police officer who quit to receive benefits despite allegations of misconduct

The police officer who is alleged to have improperly dealt with the domestic abuse complaints of slain nurse Arianna Taylor will still receive his benefits although he resigned with allegations of misconduct hanging over his head.

Sergeant Cleus Billingy who was in charge of Questelles Police Station, where Taylor-Israel lodged complaints, tendered his retirement from the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) last week.

Commissioner of Police, Colin John told SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday, February 19, that several internal charges were brought against Billingy under Section 17(1) of the Police Act for neglect of duty on different occasions, and wilful disobedience of an order.

On Monday during a press briefing, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said there is most likely nothing that can be done to discipline Billingy as he is no longer subject to the internal police processes.

“So, he resigns. He escapes the internal police processes. I do not know if the nature of the evidence which they have, may amount to a criminal offence committed by him. Clearly, the police hierarchy must have thought that the sufficiency of evidence existed in so far as an internal disciplinary matter was concerned,” Dr. Gonsalves told reporters.

Gonsalves said Billingy resigned after he received the internal charge sheet and although there is public revulsion, that does not mean there is a criminal case to bring.

The Prime Minister said any evidence will have to go to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to see whether there’s a sufficiency of evidence to charge criminally.

Gonsalves, who is also national security minister said Billingy is not at retirement age, but he has been a police officer for over 20 years, so he is entitled to a payout.

The Prime Minister said BIllingy must have calculated that if he went through the internal disciplinary process and was found guilty of any wrongdoing, the Commissioner of Police could reduce him in rank from sergeant to constable.

“So let us say he is reduced to constable and you remain there as a constable for the rest of your years up till you 60 whatever the retirement age is, he will get paid, but his pension would have been at the level of a constable, so I am sure that maths was done by whoever is advising him,” Gonsalves opined while adding that is better to take what you have now and run rather than risk something else lower later on.

“Because of course, the diminution of status and if you have a sergeant salary and you have expenditure up to a particular level, to take a constable salary with that may put you in a bind.

“So may as well take your benefits what you can get now and see if you can move on and get another job somewhere else whether here or overseas.”

Gonsalves said that if somebody takes advantage of the rules as they are there is nothing that can be done, so BIllingy will get whatever benefits he accrued upon his resignation, but he suffers as presumably, he would have liked to have stayed on and rise further in his job.