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Why did police kill Santo Y. Hernandez? Public needs to know!
The deceased was allegedly in a confrontation with members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) on the morning of December 6, 2017 after he was found hiding in an abandoned house where he was said to have had a knife. Commissioner of Police Michael B. Matthews had described him as “aggressive” and suggested the killing may have been justified because “armed officers were confronted with a violent escaped prisoner.”
The deceased was charged with the murder of Alston E. Penn and Mr Hernandez was also one of many that broke out of Her Majesty’s Prison on September 6, 2017 after the roof and compound were demolished by Hurricane Irma. He died on December 7, 2017 in a local public hospital from his gunshots.
Are they being transparent?
Mr Matthews stated that in the interest of transparency he had ordered a probe into the killing of Mr Hernandez and promised it would be independent of the RVIPF. He had asked the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force to carry out the investigations.
The report that took three months to complete had some two promised due dates and, after months of delays and questions by the media, the report was submitted on March 8, 2018.
One month later, neither the public nor the family have access to the findings.
Last month our newsroom asked Mr Mathews when the report will be made public. He had said, “it was up to Governor Jaspert to decide once he received the Director of Public Prosecution’s advice about any form of publication.”
The royal run around?
Last week when asked again by our newsroom about making the report public, the Commissioner dodged the question, simply saying “there was a legal procedure within the Territory” and declined to comment further.
Yesterday, April 4, 2018 Governor Augustus J. U. Jaspert aka ‘Gus’ in a statement on the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force report said: “I have now received the initial investigation report into the events of the operation to recapture Mr Hernandez who regrettably died the following day due to injuries sustained.”
The Governor added: “As I am sure you will appreciate, there must now follow due procedural and legal processes to ensure that the findings of the investigation are correctly considered. This must take place before further information is publicly disclosed.”
However, he did not explain what the “due procedural and legal processes” were but claimed that “I can assure you that both the RVIPF Commissioner of Police and I are committed to openness and transparency in this matter,” while acknowledging in the same press statement issued by the Government Information Service (GIS) “a life was lost and Mr Hernandez family is left to mourn this loss.”
While still not giving a date as to when the report of the Crown killing of a civilian prisoner will be made public, the young Governor stated: “I will say that I believe that all actions of officers in service to the public should always be open for evaluation and independent review in order to maintain the confidence of the public, particularly for law enforcement officers. We must be prepared to review our actions and have others do the same.”
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39 Responses to “Why did police kill Santo Y. Hernandez? Public needs to know!”
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Mr Penn,whose ancestors are generations of BVIslanders was darkskinned. His skull was shattered and his blood drenched the soil of his birth as the evildoer travelled on Mr Penn's passport and while the DR continues to empty it's human dregs in the VI.
Why wasn't the murderer's skull crushed and left to bleed out in the bushes like he did his victim is the question.
He did his crime and escaped legal custody. What he allegedly did to the police I don't know but he's not news at all. Focus on better stories please
Mr. Hernandez is an alleged murderer that means he is innocent until proven guilty but it appears that he is already guilty in the public eye. As bad as we may view him he still deserves due process.
Mr. Hernandez is now a victim, just like any other victim we need to know how and why he was killed so we could try to prevent this from happening again by making an example of the perpetrators. Today for me, tomorrow for you. If the Police failed to carry out their duties properly then they too need to answer to their transgressions. He is a victim and he too has a family who deserves answers.
Finally Mr. Hernandez would have been a treasure trove of information in hoping to get some answers to the murder of Penn. Did he act alone? What was the motive? He is now dead and of little use to the investigation.
Again Commish Matthews you need to release this report and quit the dilly dallying. Justice delayed is justice denied!
Sincerely,
The Public
Let us await the final report of the commission of inquiry and then we will make an informed decision. As human
beings we need to show tolerance for each other. Rightfully speaking Mr Hernandez should have heeded the call to return to the prison after the hurricane. He was considered to be dangerous and being armed with a knife the police did not take any chance with him. However, whether the use of deadly force was justified is another matter for consideration. It is about time we bring a closure to this matter because both the Penn and Hernandez families are grieving because of the loss of their loved ones.
I know the sentiments of Be longers however, the right to life is fundamental and no one should not take another's life. 'This is a critical time and we need peace, love and happiness to prevail.
Some ask why a news story on this well I ask why not? The role of Journalists and the Media is clear. They must investigate and hold the authorities accountable. Good work VINO.
Who vex loss.