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‘I don’t trust the Police’ a worn out excuse- CoP Matthews
It was a murder which rocked the territory of the Virgin Islands (VI) more than any other in its recent history, for the sole front that an innocent child, Trinity A. Thomas, 11, was killed.
In 2017 the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) was faced with some 10 murders and so far, there have been 9 arrests and prosecutions in relation to five of the 10 murders, none for the double murder.
Responding to questions at a press conference today January 29, 2018 at Pasea Estate, Mr Matthews said Thomas was asleep in the back seat when unidentified criminals shot and killed her, along with the driver of the vehicle, Mr Franklin E. Penn Jr.
“These are killers living in our communities, let’s make no bones about this, they are in our communities and they think they got away with it. They are using weapons in our communities, they must have somewhere to hide those weapons, they are seen carrying those weapons. Illegal firearms are seen in our communities almost everyday but it’s not everyday we get information on them.”
Disgusting
Mr Matthews said that when comparing the level of solving murders around the world it is successful because witnesses come forward. “So let’s just reflect on the snubbing out of young Trinity’s life and ask me how many people have come forward and given us information in relation to that killing is a big fat zero and I think it’s disgusting.”
“I don’t care who the killers are in terms of relating to people in the community,” he stressed while urging persons with any bit of information to confide in someone, if not the RIVPF.
“There are many ways to get the word to us, whether through a pastor, a friend, a minister of Government, or a trusted individual within the community, rather than for persons to use the worn out excuse, ‘I don’t trust the Police.’
"We know the information is out there because every now and then we find something out and we discover when we find it out that several people knew this but nobody is prepared to tell us so they are just waiting for the police to eventually find out. It’s not [the] way to operate in a modern society."
Investigative report into shooting of Hernandez getting final ‘tweaks’
Meanwhile, the report on the investigation conducted by external sources in relation to the fatal shooting of murder accused Santo Y. Hernandez on December 6, 2017 in the hills of Butu Mountain on Tortola is expected to be in the hands of the Governor of the Virgin Islands, Mr Augustus J. U. Jaspert shortly.
Hernandez, who was one of many to escape from Her Majesty’s Prison at Balsam Ghut after the powerful category 5 hurricane, Irma, destroyed the prison buildings, died on December 7, 2017 at Peebles Hospital after being shot by police.
According to Matthews, it was only today that his deputy was informed that the report is now having its final tweaks as it relates to the acquisition of a final ballistic report before it is passed on to the Commissioner of Police in the Turks and Caicos. “So, I am envisioning that it would be in the very near future that we would be in receipt of that report.
“Now bear in mind that it is sanctioned ultimately by His Excellency the Governor in terms of such an investigation. So ultimately that report will become the property of His Excellency the Governor.”
However, CoP Matthews said it is his personal view that components of the report should be made public but that’s not his call.
“My only caveat I would place on that is, if it created risks for any current or future RVIPF operations by publishing certain parts of the reports that might explain how we do certain things then I think we have to think carefully about those aspects.”
Hernandez was allegedly in a confrontation with members of the RVIPF on the morning he was found hiding in an abandoned house where he was said to have a knife. CoP Matthews had described him as “violent.”
Weeks later, a 12-member team from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force arrived in the VI to conduct, what Mr Matthews said will be an “independent investigation" into the killing of Mr Hernandez.
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27 Responses to “‘I don’t trust the Police’ a worn out excuse- CoP Matthews”
Same thing I'm saying. One will think that family and friends of these victims who move in several circles will be more that willing to share any information with they authorities. We cannot as a country continue to let crime ruin our lives. We cannot continue kept silence on these matters any longer and try to just it by claiming not to trust the police as if this will make it any better. By keeping silent we are given permission to criminals to continue there crime spree.
On another note, Mr. Matthews, you have to ensure that your officers can be trusted with information that should remain confidential. Officers should display behavior that is up holding to their post. Being a Police Officer is a very difficult job, but one must be prepare for such and should really love the country and all citizens who dwell there. It should not only be for a pay check and to avoid immigration and labor lays in the country and for locals officers it should not be and entitlement job and a right to do whatever you please.
When enforcing the law, it should be done across the board. Not one thing for John and different interpretation for Peter. Everyone should be treat fair and just. This is one of the reasons for the distrust of the police. Citizen of this country you are not without fault. One should show respect for self, those around us and for the community on a whole especially raising our children. Good Behavior Counts. As the old saying goes MANNERS MAKETH A MAN. If you don't understand this ask and elderly person around you what it means.
I personally don’t know anything about those crimes or any of them but I can say just like how my friends knows me I know my friends and none of them (us) are into drugs/ Guns or living ratchet to draw those attention. We don’t support or mingle with those types of nobody.
What I’m planning on doing to help the police will be what I’ve been doing for The last 5-6 year’s. (1) keeping my hands clean so they can focus on other issues instead of adding to my community list of issues. (2) to keep working with the 35 students of Valley Day school on VG and being an example/ role model in their life so when they grow up they can be (1 or 35) persons less involved in anything that will hurt them or our community. My job to help the family and friends for the victims will be by doing my best so no other family or friends can feel they pain and live without closure.
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Everything from failure to follow simple, safe traffic rules to disgusting murders like this, to corruption and rule-bending at every level of government which no one complains about because they hope they can benefit from it, or they scared they'll be blacklisted and won't get a trade license or something.
Is this territory's culture rotten to the core?
Would we be better off if we had a set of cops like the UK and Bermuda police who were here just enforcing the law and not caring who it is they pulling over because they aren't related/don't live next door/aint afraid of them? Is the only solution to hand the full law and order portfolio over to the UK?
Of course, then everyone would complain about colonial slave master oppression, but as we know, any excuse will come up for not respecting the law, whether they are UK or Vincey cops.
More fundamentally - how do we re-shape our population's culture to start considering the greater good of all instead of just the good of ourself, our friends, our family? Serious, this place is messed up and we need to fix it, fast.
crap. landlords gauging people, refusing to repair or take care of rentals, kicking people out to raise rent for new
ones, crooked banks or their managers being allowed to operate in BVI even after the proof presented to the Premier,
charging all kinds of money for defective products coming in here - and HELL yes, these insane murders, drive by
shootings in a country with very limited allowance to even have guns. What the hell is up? Would it be best to
just have a nuclear weapon dropped to finish it all off? Terrible thought and I'm sure the police commissioner does
not like that one - but what the hell else is to be done? Place is insane. No brakes.
Most of the comments I have read under this story goes right back to what the COP is saying, all kinds of lame a$$ excuses about not trusting police, the reason why no one talking. “FOOLISHNESS”. You don’t trust the police with your information because they will talk or call your name, well then their are many reputable people still living amongst us, why not go and give them the information to pass on, do you not trust them either