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Hon. Aragon Speaks Out Against Outlaw Cops
posted (April 5, 2017)

We got to speak with the commissioner today at a 35-minute press briefing set up for the Minister of State in Home Affairs, Elodio Aragon. Aragon wanted to address the media on the rogue behaviour displayed by police officers on San Pedro  on Saturday morning. As we've shown you, Police Constables Norman Coye and Darnell Madrill have been caught on camera manhandling a woman. Coye is also seen recklessly firing live rounds from a handgun which he pointed at the ground. Those wild gunshots injured at least 4 people. 

Aragon told us that this type of behaviour is not being condoned. The media challenged him on that since the constables have only been charged for a minor offense - when a bullett is lodged behind one of the victim's eyes:

Hon. Elodio Aragon - Minister of State, Home Affairs
"Thus far we've had two police officers who have been placed on interdiction on half pay. These two officers have also been charged, arrested and charged for wounding, various degrees of wounding and the investigation is still on going because there are other statements being taken from other witnesses and of course we are looking to see what other charges can be laid on these officers and possibly other officers that were involved in this incident. I just want to tell the media and the public out there that from the ministry side of things the police department we sympathize with what has happened. I mean this has involved where we had a conflict or a situation between the police officers and the community. We've always as a police department look to work towards and with the community. In these situations it's unfortunate but at the same time we must bare that the police department will at no time cover up any kind of thing, we will do our job because at the end of the day the department's good name must stand out and tall for everyone to see. As the minister of police I will tell you this, I do not tolerate in terms of police abuse, I don't tolerate corruption in police officers and definitely an incident like this we have asked the professional standards branch and the commissioner has been directed to ensure that we do what we always do in situations like this; is do the right thing in terms of investigation."

Daniel Ortiz
"Did these officers handle the situation as a responsible police officer should have?"

Hon. Elodio Aragon
"Well you know every scenario is different and police officers are trained to deal with certain scenarios. They understand the use of justifiable force and harm; they understand the laws that govern them - the police of a police officer etc. From the video I've seen definitely this incident is regrettable, I must say that this incident was not an incident initiated by the police. If you all look at the video and understand the facts of the case this situation initiated where two females were fighting and the police intervened and then of course we had police officers who were not on official duty came and assisted and this situation grew to where it is now. Of course we have issues where one or two officers will not conduct themselves to the best that they should but at the end of the day this department stands for the protection of citizens and their property etc."

Daniel Ortiz
"The treatment in which these officers gave to a deadly weapon like a firearm - persons observing it looks as though it was quite careless in the way the guns were fired on the ground."

Hon. Elodio Aragon
"A police officer should never pull out a firearm unless he is willing and ready to use it because he's doing his job. This situation obviously you can see from the video and this is my personal belief he did not have a right to pull out that firearm like that but at the end of the day the police department is dealing with the situation. Right now as a part of this investigation it is twofold, one dealing with the criminal aspect in terms of what has transpired and two there are definitely will be disciplinary action taken against these police officers for prejudice to good order and discipline and to deal with the situation in the use of that firearm."

Jules Vasquez
"Should these men be in the police department?"

Hon. Elodio Aragon
"Jules we have 2,300 men and women in this department. We are not a perfect department. I don't know a perfect department in this world if you could identify one for me. The fact is we have men and women and we are dealing with human beings. Of course we have police officers who we would want all police officers to be exceptional police officers but at times we have officers - they are human beings and they make mistakes, they cross the line but when that happens that is why we have a police act to deal with it disciplinary and we will have a criminal act that governs how we deal with people when they pass and over step their bounds." 

Today, Assistant Police Commissioner Keith Lino told us that he has tracked down the woman who's seen being manhandled in the video. She has already given a statement about her ordeal.

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