‘Community policing not being taken seriously’- Clyde W. Potter
In a press release from the RVIPF published on September 25, 2015, the RVIPF asked that homeowners be vigilant in securing windows especially those out of public view in light of a recent upsurge in burglaries.
The areas said to be mainly affected are Long Bush, Lower Estate and Joe’s Hill. “An apartment building in the West End area was also the scene of a double burglary. Jewelry and cash were the main items taken. A number of play stations were also reported missing.”
Community policing can be effective
Constable Potter is the Community Policing Officer assigned to the East End Communities and said that because of his vigilance, structured patrol strategy, and the strong relationship built with the members of the community, he has been very successful in nipping criminal activities in the bud, gain intelligence that would have led to the arrest of persons who commit certain crimes and disbanded activities that are illegal and have the potential of leading to crimes such as gambling.
“I would say that the [police] officers are not doing enough mobile patrols. Because we are the community police they expect us alone to be in the community but the regular police should be around the community as well and help get information from the public as to when and what times robberies happen,” said Potter.
“We don’t have enough patrols in the nights and the guys are there gambling, smoking their weed, (marijuana) doing their illegal activities, plotting to where they want to steal next,” he added.
Potter, in being very candid, said that since the institution of the community policing initiative he and others assigned as Community Policing Officers have been having challenges with the regular police officers who he said do not have faith in the initiative.
“They don’t think that the community policing is effective. The regular police thinks it is stupid, you just wasting manpower, that’s how they look at it. But they don’t understand that because the community has lost faith in the police that we are having a problem with the community coming forward when something happens and since I come into the community I get more information,” added Mr Potter.
Not a one-man army
He was keen on noting, “One man cannot be an army because when the regular police look at it as stupidness then they don’t do their part.
“Remember community policing is about embracing the community and not just arrest, arrest someone and other police officers want to know if you are a police officer. Why you not arresting? Why you calling us? So that’s what happens.”
He explained that in some situations, as a community police officer, if an incident breaks out he would restrain the offender/s and call for backup from the regular police to carry out the full arrest process. “But they would say I already a police why I calling them. So that’s part of the problem we are having because they don’t see the importance of it.”
Several efforts to reach community policing members and groups in the West End areas yesterday afternoon proved futile.
Most burglaries occurring daytime
According to the RVIPF, almost all of the burglaries were during the daytime and windows in the back of homes with removable glass louvers were the points of entry.
The RVIPF has said that as a result of this upsurge, police are increasing their patrols in neighbourhoods around the territory. Simultaneously, residents are asked to be on the lookout for suspicious persons or persons walking around with tools used to pry open windows or doors and gain entry to homes.
Persons should contact the RVIPF three-digit non-emergency number 311 if anything suspicious is seen or heard. Persons can also call the confidential Crimestoppers hotline number at 800-TIPS (8477) or any officer within the RVIPF.
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17 Responses to “‘Community policing not being taken seriously’- Clyde W. Potter”
P....... is a l*ar
The Officer though makes a distinction between Community Officers and 'regular' officers stating that he will wait for regular officers to complete his arrest. This suggests that either the Officer has forgotten that he is a police officer, has forgotten his powers of arrest, or feels that community officers should not arrest the local community. This attitude needs addressing or the basis of community policing will fail.
All im concerned about is teaching women how to drive while on duty..