By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

POLICE corruption hinders anti-crime initiatives and efforts to restore confidence in law enforcement, according to Commissioner Ellison Greenslade.

Mr Greenslade suggested that violence against police officers was partially the result of cops engaging in criminal activity as he gave a strong rebuke against inappropriate behaviour.

He added that police officers caught leaking crime scene photos and classified information on social media will be fully punished.

“There is an unspoken code in that criminal underworld,” he said, “nobody has a particular problem with a policeman. The streets have a problem with corrupt officers. I cannot ask a man to put his hands behind his back to handcuff him and tell him he’s a criminal and he’s committed a crime, and I’m going to apply the law, when that man that I’m attempting to arrest is observing people who should be police officers misbehaving and doing the same thing that he is doing, that’s what causes problems.”

Mr Greenslade said: “It will cause parents to be discouraged and I fear there is sometimes instances where parents are not forthcoming with turning their children in, relatives and friends may not be (forthcoming) because they’re saying I want to do my part but I’m not so sure that persons who are supposed to be above board are above board.

“So maybe this is the kind of frank and honest discussion we must now have,” he said.

Mr Greenslade spoke to the media at a press conference at police headquarters on Saturday, following an early morning police-involved shooting.

He explained that uniformed officers must maintain respectful relationships with the citizens they were charged to serve.

“That uniform is sacred,” he said. “It represents authority, that is why we tell officers that they must be above board because if you want that respect that the uniform is supposed to guarantee, then it has to be with the consent of the people that you serve, not subject.

Mr Greenslade said: “I have to make that strong position, you are a really good police officer insulated by that uniform which radiates authority and respect, but you have to maintain it.”

Mr Greenslade said that he felt he could walk unarmed through any street in the country without fear because of his clean record of ethical conduct.

“I have never wronged anyone,” he said, “I do not sell drugs, I do not fraternize with drug people, I do not commit crime.”

Mr Greenslade urged officers and the public to identify law-breakers, adding that the organisation had taken a zero tolerance approach.

“I’m very disturbed by the behaviour of quite a number of police officers,” he said. “Police officers must always conduct themselves in a way that brings credit to the reputation of the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

“Police officers cannot be on Facebook, posting on Instagram and posting YouTube footage of crime scenes, of privileged police information, police reports, nor should they be posting voice notes in talk groups or to family members and friends offering opinions as to what they believe one way or the other.

“Officers must line themselves up properly with the policies and procedures of the Royal Bahamas Police Force. I’m asking officers who’ve run afoul of our policies and procedures, if you’ve done it, stop now. I will adopt as I always have a zero tolerance approach to any police officer who is posting on Facebook inappropriate comments or images, posting on Instagram inappropriate photos or information taken from police computer system’s screenshots and putting them out there.”

He added: “It must stop now.”