Dear Editor,
I refer to the letter of K.A. Juman-Yassin, Attorney-at-Law captioned “Police cannot arrest or detain a person merely to obtain information, there must be a reasonable suspicion” (08.03.11) and wish to commend him on his edifying comments, to wit ” Our police are by-and-large not respected as they should be and one of the reasons is because of the manner in which the public and even criminals are treated. If respect is shown respect will be gained.”
This should be the motto of the police and let me coin it here: “To protect, respect and to serve”.
This motto should form the foundation of their training and should be emblazoned on all their vehicles, letterheads and uniforms as a constant reminder that all citizens look to them for protection and in the process that all citizens’ rights will be respected and that they will serve all citizens.
The police have enormous powers and that seems over the years to characterize their modus operandi, but it is time for them to recharacterize their approach and be far more respectful of citizens in speech, words and actions. Besides some common form of decency should exist in their minds as they go about their duties.
I read sometime ago in your newspaper that the Police Chief said that they (the police) do take note of comments made on them and that they adopt those which they think practical. Well I think that my comments here are practical.
I still shudder at the utter and total disrespect the police display when dealing with persons injured during any confrontation with them and woe it is if they are dead. Pure dead carcass treatment without regard or respect for the relatives and the public witnessing the action.
Now are we going to hear from the Public Relations Officer on the matter of ‘respect’.? I think we should.
Yours faithfully,
Carl Veecock
