Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey
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DCP Fitz Bailey
By Nakinskie Robinson
Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of crime Fitz Bailey says using only police in the Public Officials Protection System would be tantamount to a waste of public resources.
His comment was in response to claims that officers of the Integrity Commission have not been given sufficient security protection.
Mr. Bailey has urged stakeholders to use private firms to provide close protection services for public officials.
"You train a police for one year to do CPO work. I mean, it's a waste," DCP Bailey argued, pointing to the "resources and the amount of money that you pay to get a police officer trained".
"I don't think I know of any other country where the security force is used in the way it is used [in Jamaica] to provide close protection," he added.
Th senior policeman said some public officials have exploited the protection services offered by the police, making the officers responsible for "menial tasks" such as picking up their children.
"It's not about security in many instances; it's about status," he contended.
Limited capacity
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The Deputy Commissioner of Police continued to hit back at claims that the Jamaica Constabulary Force is not providing adequate security for public officers.
Mr. Bailey maintained that the police cannot bear sole responsibility for securing public officers, based on its current capacity.
He said a risk assessment is conducted to determine who requires close protection.
According to DCP Bailey, the Integrity Commission's Director of Corruption Prevention's role is less risky than others within the entity such as the Director of Investigation or the Director of Corruption Prosecution.
Director of Corruption Prevention Ryan Evans was shot and wounded on Thursday in what the police believe was a robbery.
Asked whether Mr. Evans' role would not have been just as risky since his name had come up in questions raised in Parliament, DCP Bailey said: "The police cannot just respond to a person's name being called. I mean, a lot of people's names are being called."
He also pushed back at claims by the Integrity Commission's Executive Director Greg Christie concerning threats being made to members of the public body.
DCP Bailey said he was unaware of any threatening remarks made against members of the commission.
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