Dear Editor,
I stand corrected but I believe that it was 2014 that mention was made by the then police chief, that there were no statistics on crime in St. Maarten of the year before. From then already I expected our government (whichever one) to do whatever any self-respecting government does. Over the years I have discussed this with conscientious persons, who shared my view on this matter.
To say it simply, “your statistics can tell you a story”. In this case the decrease, stability or increase for instance in crime. Also, crimes in specific areas. Which can be an indicator for adverse behavior.
For example types of crime. I am mentioning this to alert those who decided, if elected they would be able to at the least assist in guiding the progress of the country in the right direction.
People to whom I speak sometimes think that I am the smartest person in the world, what I categorically deny. I was fortunate to be permitted to carry out and perform the best job in the world. And because of that, I would openly declare that “anyone who has worked for 15 years or more as a police officer and remained a fool, it is because that person was born to be a fool.” The police officer is the only person who finds him-/herself directly or indirectly involved with about 95% of whatever is happening in the country.
Not too long ago I mentioned, “… we run things.” A lady called me and told me, “I wish it was so fo true. Tings would’a be better.” But practically speaking, that is what it is (used to be) because the laws are made by the politicians in government, but it is the police who physically make sure that they are carried out. I would even go a little further as to mention that if the police performed their duties in an optimal way, the prosecutors would have time to doze off.
Calling people’s attention to their shortcomings was an intricate part of the police officer’s job. Serving the community is disbursing information, but also correcting negative behavior of others. But I have to emphasize that the police officers of late are bringing criticism on themselves and that is the fault of the police management (exceptions taken into consideration), not the Minister of Justice.
Proof of part of this is because of what was said to me in confidence by someone whom I know for years as a law-abiding citizen. I was shocked, but honestly speaking, I was hurt when this person said to me that he lost all respect for the police officer on a bike, to whom bystanders pointed out a traffic violation while it was being committed, who responded quite audibly, “All you alright, I can't bother myself with these people.” On thinking of what could be the cause of that kind of recalcitrant behavior, I came to the conclusion that that police officer (and possibly more of them) is (are) frustrated not with the public but perhaps with the lack of knowledge how to take action and describe that infraction. Or how to go about correcting that situation.
While writing this, the word “bridle” came to mind, because that is what our mentors used to say about some of us in our rookie years: “We have to put a bridle on he.” When we went on the road for the first time in 1966, we were equipped to individually handle any situation. What to do while awaiting personnel from the department which was specialised in handling the situation at hand. We were well versed in the traffic ordinance as well as the General Police Ordinance (no loitering, no public use of obscene language, etc.); how to handle a detainee who tried to resist arrest, in the correct manner to avoid the offence which was committed being declared null and void.
In the beginning of this letter I wrote that it hurt because more and more I hear the same thing: “The police are not going to do anything.” So, like I stated in the beginning of this letter, it is the statistics. Without doing anything, and no statistics which should tell the story, there is no comparison possible. And, this not the Minister of Justice’s duty, this falls under the chief of police. If I see a dump-truck being driven carelessly on the road, and notice that it is my brother behind the wheel, should I really turn a blind eye? Could it be possible that tomorrow that same dump-truck runs into me?
Russell A. Simmons
