by Linda Straker
- Rapid Response Unit, Drugs Squad and Traffic Department to pilot body cameras
- Body-worn cameras will be piloted for 6 months
- First 6 months of 2020 Grenada had a contraction in most crimes except for murder
Officers attached to the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) are among the first 3 units that will be piloting the wearing of body cameras when the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) rolls out that initiative at the end of September.
Edvin Martin, Acting Commissioner of Police, made the announcement during a news conference on Wednesday, 26 August 2020. Besides the RRU, the roll-out will also involve the Drugs Squad and the Traffic Department. The body-worn cameras will be piloted for an assessment period of 6 months.
“The effectiveness of this initiative will be monitored on an ongoing basis and a review will take place after 6 months of implementation when a determination will be made on implementing this initiative across all departments of the police force,” Martin announced. “It is our hope, among other benefits of this initiative, that it will contribute to mitigating adversarial interactions between police officers and members of the public. It will significantly enhance our capacity to gather and capture evidence at the scenes of crimes and it will also provide a platform for investigative review if this becomes necessary.”
Urging police officers to “embrace this initiative,” Martin also asked the public for support. “It is no doubt that in many jurisdictions across the world that have implemented the use of body cams, they have been effective both in holding police officers accountable as well as controlling interactions between police and members of the public.”
Martin spoke at the virtual news conference in which he provided the statistics on criminal activities for the first 6 months of 2020. Martin said that during that period Grenada had a contraction in most crimes except for murder, which by June had 10. Presently the count is 13. It must be noted that Grenada has been functioning under a State of Emergency since late March. During the period March to June, there was restriction of movement of citizens.
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I am at a loss here. Is there some kind of overpolicing going on where we have to see what the police is doing at every moment of their job. I am more interested in what it will COST the small nation to implement these high tech equipment. Also not only will the provider of the cameras know where the police is located at all times. They will know where the weakest points are at all times. Small unaware nations need to stick to what they can control and manage for their benefit. Today all electronics make you vulnerable. THOSE WHO THINK CONVERTING EVERYTHING TO ELECTRONIC WILL BE SURPRISED WHEN THEY REALIZE WHO REALLY SEES THE DATA PRODUCED in realtime. Solution: Require camera to be worn by cops who have a record of complaints of overpolicing. This will give them a means to correct their behavior and reduce the cost to the nation. Dont get into everything the the salesman come with. Think about the budget of the nation.
There is a reason why we need Bodycams in Grenada! Worry about costs? Pay your taxes! We need bodycams because guess who will be asking for evidence and answers from the police when there is police brutality. Bodycams solved cases of unarmed killing of Americans by crooked cops! Time we do that in Grenada too!
John Robertson, are you a Grenadian? Those types of comments are not the norm for Grenadians and should not be tolerated on this platform. Furthermore, it is important to research the news before making comments, especially when you intend to make a derogatory remark like the one you made about our Acting Commissioner of Police. Obviously, you have never heard him speak so you judged him by the colour of his skin rather than the content of his character. Our Acting Commissioner of Police is a born Grenadian and he is loved and appreciated by most, if not all, Grenadians living in Grenada and in the diaspora. So before you put fingers to keys the next time you wish to make such a despicable comment, please Sir, I urge you to get the facts of the matter/subject on which you wish to regurgitate your misinformed statements. Did your Mama ever said to you: never judge a book by its cover?
I didn’t realize Grenada was ploiced by foreigners. No wonder paradise is slipping away. Who brought in this slave Cather to police over Grenada. What a sad state of existence for Grenadians. Wow. And allyu can’t even realize what is going on. !!!
What a retarded comment! The C.O.P is a born Grenadian dont let the colour of his skin fool you! I cant seem to fathom the meaning of you comment.
The police commissioner is a born Grenadian how silly can you be! And learn to spell.
Hello Racist Grenadian! Guess who will be asking for evidence and answers when someone is caught in the act of Police Brutality? You people could really be foolish and hypocritical at the same time. We need bodycams to expose bad cops.