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Police Week 2002 Being used as Catalyst for Change

Contact: John Emmanuel

Tuesday, October 22, 2002 - As hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the country join in celebrations marking Police Week 2002, Police Commissioner Brian Bernard is hailing the observance as a catalyst for change within the force. In a televised address Commissioner Bernard noted that unless the police as a unit had gotten to “ know itself, confront weaknesses, steer down demons and sort through the heap of baggage collected over time”, it could not boast of a solid grasp of a plan for the future.

“This year Police Week was designed to pull many from within our ranks into action, interaction and pro-action, if we can coin the word. It is also design to call on every unit in every community on the island and to remind every citizen in every town that the police are on duty,” said Commissioner Barnard.

An intensive schedule of activities including community outreach and consultation meetings, exhibitions, debates, calypso competition, a male and female pageant show, inter-divisional games and open days at police stations are taking place throughout the week. The Commissioner explained that the activities, which may appear out of sync with the traditional image of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force as a law enforcement agency, are aimed at bridging the gap between communities and the police

Bernard said “This time around the force wants to be visionary. We are geared to break up traditions and if needs, be in order to re-establish and re-group our relations with the rest of the community we must present a new face to do so and an organizational façade that will woo rather than alienate any section of the society hence the theme simply is ‘Police and the Community: Working Together For a Brighter Future.’”

The challenges to policing he indicated continues to increase with criminal elements becoming more sophisticated and public expectations more demanding. The Force, according to Commissioner Bernard, will continue to rise to the challenge, relying heavily on support and cooperation of the public.

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