Among those 168 officers who were promoted was Gino Peck. He’s moved up in rank from Corporal to Sergeant. Now, viewers may remember that he was charged with gun offences, and he was convicted in the Magistrate’s Court. His prosecution was perceived as creating a rift in the relations between the police department and the elite team, the Gang Suppression Unit – and its former commanding officer, Marco Vidal.
Still, through extraordinary circumstances, he managed to dodge jail time for a firearm conviction, with the support of the Department and certain sectors of the public.
That happened at the end of January, and senior observers who understand the workings of the police department, tell us that whether or not he should have been prosecuted and convicted for those charges, the conviction should have been a barrier to his promotion, since it happened less than a year ago.
Today, we asked his boss about that. We also got a chance to speak with Gino himself, about that firearm conviction, and its effects on him as a police officer trying to move on:
Daniel Ortiz
"The gentleman is an exemplary officer, but he has a conviction for a criminal offence, and they have been some chatter I have picked up on that persons are a little bit – they have raised eyebrows in relation to his promotion."
Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police
"I haven't heard any chatter, but the authority to promote rests with the Commissioner of Police, we have got to look at the entire picture in terms of Mr. Peck, and his performance, yes we all know the situation involved him as we indicated prior if it was a different time I believe it would have been handled differently I don't think because of how that unfolded that Mr. Peck should have been punished by not been promoted, he is an excellent officer, he works excellent nobody has any complaints about him."
Daniel Ortiz
"You have been a career police officer, what is the expectations now of a sergeant as compared to a corporal."
Gino Peck - Promoted to Sergeant
"It is more responsibility."
Daniel Ortiz
"In what way sir, describe."
Gino Peck - Promoted to Sergeant
"That means you will also act as middle management, also you are not only responsible for your people, but also the running of the station."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir, are you ready for such an important change, you said in middle management, you were just in charge of your teams, is it something that you are looking forward to."
Gino Peck - Promoted to Sergeant
"Well, to be honest, I was already in charge of operations at my precinct, it doesn't change anything to me because I was already acting in such capacity."
Daniel Ortiz
"Now its just official."
Gino Peck - Promoted to Sergeant
"Yes it is official confirmation to me."
Daniel Ortiz
"Well sir we know that the unfortunate events which you ended up with that charge, that conviction, the public has been behind you since, has it affected you in anyway, that entire ordeal."
Gino Peck - Promoted to Sergeant
"Not really, I try to remain as fair and just, even sometimes you meet a lot of challenges but the main thing is to stay focus and do our job professionally and to the best of our abilities."
Daniel Ortiz
"Has it affected you in anyway in terms of have you lost any confidence in the law itself because there are many who say you shouldn't have been charged any at all. Now, you are an upholder of the law and the law was used against you in this fashion."
Gino Peck - Promoted to Sergeant
"I always believe and I always really believe that during the time I was in the full exercise of my authority to bear arms as a police officer. There is also a section in the law that covers us and apparently that did not apply to me, but I put it behind me and I continue to serve my country."
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