Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 04, 2014 (SKNIS): Maintaining professional standards while serving and protecting the public in an efficient and effective manner was the focus of a two week course for officers in the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force (RSCNPF).
Some 20 officers participated in the Internal Affairs and Investigation Course and an Audit and Inspection Course held from August 18 to 28 at the Police Training Complex. It was facilitated by J. Michael Stiers and Alan Young of the International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Programme (ICITAP), an initiative of the United States Department of Justice.
Inspector Rosemarie Roberts, Head of the RSCNPF’s Office of Professional Standards (Internal Affairs Department, IAD,) commented on some of the training topics which included The Use of Excessive Force; Ethics and Morals; and the Role and Responsibility of Internal Affairs.
“This was the most significant learning experience and it caught my attention,” she stressed, citing the need for persons in that office to be unbiased and trustworthy. “The training is a positive step forward that will maintain a position of fairness and firmly ensure that the Force’s IAD operates with a level of integrity that is second to none.”
In reference to the Audit and Inspection Course, Sergeant Illena Phillip explained that she and other participants were grateful to learn from an expert in the field. They covered areas including Audit and Inspection Format, Effective Policies and Direction, Inspection Function, Types of Inspection, and more.
“This enables us as leaders to identify problems and provide solutions to any department in the organization,” Sergeant Phillip stated. “This training has been very comprehensive and worthwhile. The lecturers expertly passed the information on to the class and I commend them for that.”
Facilitator Stiers congratulated the participants for their receptiveness and dedication and added that they should be “examples of how things should be done professionally and in a proper manner.” Programme Manager for ICITAP, Gary Bennett, stressed that “police accountability was extremely important for any law enforcement organization and he informed the class that they are a part of an evolving programme model designed by ICITAP to promote such across the Caribbean region.”
Commissioner of Police Celvin G. Walwyn thanked the Barbados-based U.S. Embassy as well as the members of the Department of Justice and ICITAP personnel for their assistance in making this course a reality.
“As Commissioner, whenever I leave the Federation, it is to ensure that the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force is that shining beacon for law enforcement not just in the East Caribbean, but the Caribbean as a whole,” he stated. “Many programmes were started to help us on the way and many more are to come, but this is one of the most important ones because if you have no integrity, it doesn’t matter what else you have. The one thing you have is your word and when you lose your word you have nothing else.”
As such, Commissioner Walwyn gave his word to the men and women of the Force and the public that any complaints made against police officers will be investigated thoroughly and fairly in order to uphold the integrity of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force.