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Cops Cautious In Make Judgment Statements
posted (April 3, 2017)
So, what is the Professional Standards Branch saying about this incident? The video makes it clear what happened, but today the lead officer, Assistant Police Commissioner Keith Lino, told us that it's not so simple. In a press briefing today, he told us what the officers involved are reporting to his investigating team:

ACP Keith Lino, OC - Professional Standards Branch
"We had conducted an investigation that have shown the police and the public had a confrontation. The confrontation had apparently had occurred because the police were dealing with a female who allegedly was under the influence. The police reported that they had handcuffed this female and they were trying to put her under control to be escorted to the police station."

"While they were doing that, it was then that the crowd believe that they (the police) had abused the female and they commence in aggressing the police. The police then reported to us that they attempted to protect themselves and it was then that the crowd continued to aggressed them. The police then took out their service revolvers and to try and deter the crowd from attacking them. So they use their firearms to shoot in the air as well as on the ground to avoid the people from attacking them."

"We have since gotten their statements and two of the policemen who were out there brandishing their firearms had use their firearms to protect themselves, one, PC Norman Coye and the next PC Madrill. We had subsequently charged the 2 of them for wounding, for the offence that had been committed against the Cowo borthers."

"The investigation as I said is continuing, because the police officers will be charged likewise disciplinary for the action that they had committed whilst out there in San Pedro."

Reporter
"The woman who police were initially trying to put into the vehicle, is it believe from what you gathered that the police employed brutality against her and is she one of the individuals who is seeking court action?"

ACP Keith Lino, OC - Professional Standards Branch
"Our investigation is continuing as I said. That particular young lady, we haven't found her yet. I am told by sources out there that she is an immigrant and that her style is a lifestyle that works particularly as one of the waitresses at the club. Since the weekend we haven't located this particular young lady, but we have intention to return and to see if we can locate her."

So, what about those questionable aspects of the incident that the video shows? Well, ACP Lino took a few questions from the press, and here's that conversation with him:

Reporter
"What is the standard operating procedure in terms of an officer attempting to defuse the situation using a firearm? IS he allowed to discharge in the air? IS he allowed to discharge on the ground? How does that work?"

ACP Keith Lino, OC - Professional Standards Branch
"First and foremost we discourage our officers from using firearm in regards to being attacked, as they allege. We would prefer for them to use their baton, because each police officer is issued with a baton and hence the reason why we have establish that there are some challenges and hence the reason we also had charged the police officers to have caused the wounds to the complainants."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Those snapshots showed the officers brandishing the firearms and pointing them at the ground and at people. It's a public relations nightmare for the police department. Would you acknowledge that?"

ACP Keith Lino, OC - Professional Standards Branch
"Yes it's a challenge to us."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"How many bullets were discharged from those service weapons?"

ACP Keith Lino, OC - Professional Standards Branch
"We found about 10 expended shells out there."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Is that unusual to find that many shells trying to defuse a situation with the public."

ACP Keith Lino, OC - Professional Standards Branch
"I think it is reasonable."

Reporter
"In terms of the video, have you seen the video and what weight would it bear in a situation like this?"

ACP Keith Lino
"What I saw made me to believe that the police, their actions, it would appear that they weren't justified in what they did."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Is there any reason to believe that the officer who use their weapons were under the influence of alcohol?"

ACP Keith Lino
"We are looking at that angle likewise, because people are saying yes they were, but at this time we are looking at that."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Had any samples been taken from them as you would per say in a traffic accident situation?"

ACP Keith Lino
"Only the traffic accident legislation provide for that."

Reporter
"Then you all wouldn't be able to prove that they were or weren't under the influence of alcohol."

ACP Keith Lino
"No, investigation can prove, because by going to different establishment, if the police were drinking, people would say that. They have different method of proving whether or not they were drinking. We may not be able to prove if they were drunk, but we can prove whether or not they were drinking."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"Why is it that the police are contemplating harm as compared to grievous harm or aggravated assault with these weapons? Because they are firearms. Don't the firearms act can be applied to officers even though they are allowed to have service weapons if they abuse the use of those weapons?"

ACP Keith Lino
"To answer your question, we goes by the medico form and I have indicated the medico form certified by the doctor had indicated wounding. So you can't go against that. Hence the reason the officers has been charged for wounding."

"I mentioned earlier that we will be proceeding against the officers, disciplinary likewise which is the police act and any breach on discipline that they will be dealt with under the police act."

Daniel Ortiz, 7News
"For those when they view the answers you've given to the questions we asked, and they may interpret it as "the police department will try to cover up for this situation." Can you assure us that that is not going to happen in this case?"

ACP Keith Lino
"We've been out there since Saturday and we have already charged yesterday. This morning they have been arraigned in the magistrate court out in San Pedro. So there is no cover and hence the reason why we are able at this early stage to come and brief the media, because investigation is ongoing and it could take 3-4-5-6 months."

In the initial report on the incident, the Police department said, quote, "The Commissioner of Police is disturbed by a video he saw of the incident, and as is customary in all police related shooting, he has directed Commander Professional Standards Branch to fully investigate the criminal and disciplinary aspect of this incident." End quote.

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