True Stories - Helping Los Angeles Metro Customers who are in danger

Managing Director

Los Angeles 

Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

One Gateway Plaza

Los Angeles, California 90012 - 2952

6/3/2018

Dear Sir, 

Let me introduced myself, my name is Allan H. F. Palmer; I am a Vincentian by nationality, I have been living in Los Angeles County for the past four years. I use the Metro Subway and bus system on a regular basis. Everywhere I go on Metro system, I have observed that metro facility has a high security presence; there are members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff department, there are members Los Angeles Police Department presence, there is a private security and there is the Metro Security and fare enforcement officers also.

This not a is bad thing, for it is vital to ensure that your riders are given the feeling of safety and security while utilizing any of Metro facility. I have also noticed that Metro facility also have a state of the arts surveillance system that gives exceptional visual coverage to monitor the train stations, on board the trains and buses. On the regular basis I hear members of Metro staff shouting instructions to patron, within the stations to get behind the yellow line, not to encroach behind the security gates, or to get off the tracks. This gives me the impression that your surveillance system is not just in place and is used on a review basis; however, they are properly and are constantly monitored.

However, it seems that too regular when I am using your facility I am required to go out of my way, as a passenger, to render help to people in distress. I will bring to you three of those times that I was forced to get involved to aid patron of metro subway system.

Incident # 1:

In 2017, I did not pay attention to the date; because I was just doing what is right, not knowing I would have written this letter. I was at the Civic Center awaiting the train Purple/Red line terminal; where I was minding my own business. While there, I heard the loud voices of two males arguing, which was followed by a lady was shouting hysterically, I went to see what was going on. I saw an African American male and a Caucasian male in a scuffle.

At this point the African American male was attempting to throw the Caucasian male onto the train tracks. By this time, I have resolved myself not to get involved in other people’s business as was my norms. There was other people looking at the incident and no one got involved; however, the Caucasian male looked at me and stretched his hand towards me and said help me. Even though I was doing all in my power not to get involved; I honestly could not ignore a fellow human, in a dangerous situation, making a plea to me to help. So I went over to the two men and I broke the grasp the African American had on the Caucasian male and by extension took him away from the African American male and abort what could have been a tragedy. However, and for reason unknown to me, the African American male was quite upset and he insisted on throwing the Caucasian male on the train tracks, as a result, once again I had to unwillingly intervene until they both parted ways on the coming trains.

Incident # 2: 

One Sunday morning in the month of March, I cannot remember the exact date, (however, this incident can be reviewed because the Ambulance was summoned to the Metro facility by metro staff on my request); I was standing on the lower level of the Seventh Street - Metro Center platform, in the vicinity of the platform number one escalator, that brings people down from platform number 1. During this period of operations, the elevator on platform number one was closed and cordoned off and was declared out of service.

I was standing on the platform minding my business. while I was standing there, I heard a tumbling on the escalator. I turn around and I say an elderly Caucasian male, with a walking aid: a walker, head down feet up, sliding down the escalator with the escalator’s help. I cannot in all honesty say what happened, or how he ended up in that position; but a review of your surveillance cameras can gave an accurate account of what took place. The man was literally chapped, in a kind of semi fetal position, between the two sides of the escalator, and was calling for help; as the escalator stairs bang him as he lay helpless caught. Everyone looked at the elderly handicap as the escalator continues to pushed him off; but his awkward position, being securely wedged between the sides of the escalator and his previous injuries prevented him from helping himself.

There were other people standing around, there was even members of his own race, standing right in the area, not too far from the disabled and old man, still trying to stay out of other people business; Unfortunately, everyone ignored the man who needed help as well as his loud cry for help, they all blankly looked at the fallen man but did nothing. It came down to me to do what was right. I went and I took the fellow off of the escalator and I lay him down on the floor try to get him to lay on his back just in the event that his fall, roll, and banging of the elevator resulted in an injured or if the incident aggravates some injury that may require him to use the walker, it is them he informed me that he cannot lay on his back because he has an injury to his back. I asked on lookers to use the intercom to informed Metro personnel to send the ambulance and no one did that either. I had to left the man find an intercom, update metro and then return to the victim.

Incident # 3:

On the morning of Sunday, 20th May, 2018, I was on my way to Santa Monica, I was standing on Plat form number one, in the general vicinity of the Flower Street, exit waiting for the train to Santa Monica, when I saw two Asian young ladies, running along the platform, they were trying to get to platform number 2 to get the train to Long Beach. Although one of the ladies were ahead of the other, they appear to be running in unison. The young ladies ran up the escalator, which was moving in their direction of their travel. This would have allowed them make their way over to the Blue line. By this time, they were almost to the top of the escalator, I noticed the ladies suddenly turn around and began to run down the upward moving escalator. I also notice there was someone on the top of the escalator who appears to be sitting, which was the reason for the girl sudden decent.

To be honest, I though the whole series of event was funny, as a result I began to smile at the sudden turn of events. I thought it was one of the many characters were just finding something awkward to do again, like sitting on the landing of the escalator to inhibit patron. One never know what to expect. After the ladies left the escalator, and upon closer inspection, the person on the top of the escalator was not sitting but was lying face down, I asked the person who were standing there if that is an emergency situation and no one answered, it was then I saw the person’s head and shoulder area going up with the upward movement of the escalator and then down after the stair that send his head up had pass.

So I went over to the escalator and I saw that it was someone lying face down on the escalator who appeared to be unresponsive. So I quickly ran up the stairs, and I held him by neck of his top and the back of his pants in an effort to lift him off of the escalator, he did not appear to be a particularly big man and I should not have had any difficulty lifting him off the escalator. However, I was unable to. It was then another fellow saw me struggling to move the man from off the escalator and came by to render some assistance. Both of us could not lift the man off the escalator, it was then I noticed that the top the man was wearing was caught between the escalator which made it impossible to get him off the still moving escalator. It then turned off the escalator using the emergency shut off switch, after the escalator was turned off the fellow who was rendering help left. I once again had to find an intercom and informed the metro personnel of the current situation and request that they send the ambulance, to the location.

They call members of the Los Angeles Police Department who was on duty at the station to deal with the matter. There was one thing I recognized when I was dealing with these incident was no one care enough to say thanks. The man at Civic Center who begged me to get involved when he was about to be hauled onto the tracks did not say thanks, it was more important for him to recover some book he had in his passion, the Caucasian elderly/ handicap fellow who fell down the escalator who everyone was ignoring did not say thanks, I did not expect a thank you from the man who was trapped because of his current situation and state of mind. The police who came to the scene did not say thanks or took my name, and the Metro operator who I reported the incident to did not say thanks or took my name.

It was as if I am obligated to get involved when I did, and I was only doing what was expected of me. I have seen many instant when police officers, fire personnel and others who were acting in the capacity their paid profession who acted in the line of their required and paid duties are acknowledges and rewarded for doing their work. Yet I was not even thanked for endangering my life, risking injuries to render help to total stranger, and in so doing, I relief Metro from, delay in service (in the instant of the Civic Center incident) and obvious increase liability, and a bad reputation.

It is these type of behavior from your employees on all from that is probable responsible for the general reluctance of patron to get involved and render help even to people in need.

In pursuant of appreciation.

True Story: A broken Jaw - A police conspiracy for death by misadventure? Mmmm!

For many years, I was in deep denial. I refused to believe and to accept, a simple fact; my colleagues in oath, and duties; the men with whom I shared a police station, for up to six days, and some times in advance of a week, without seeing my family and my friends, would have arranged for me to be murder, to advance their careers. 

These were men with whom, I eat, share personal information, discussed matters of importance; men with whom, I had fought alongside and for whom I have fought. Men I expected to watch my back in dangerous situations, men who confided in me, and men whom I give critical advise too, on matters of jobs saving consequences and other things. Men to whom, I give my loyalty and my secretary; but they did and they did it without remorse.


Now I was sitting before a doctor who addressed me; he said, “Officer Palmer,” pausing for a while, still looking at the X-ray on the X-ray display monitor, as he used the top of his ball point pen like a pointer; to draw my attention, to a particular area, on the picture that showed a bony outline of my Jaw, chin, teeth and the lower part of the crown of my head.


The last time I was in a similar situation, I was sitting before a different doctor, at the same hospital, in the same Accident and Emergency ward, with blood running from my nose. At that time, I was conveyed to the hospital in a police vehicle, and I was accompanied by my training instructor Sgt. Ron Roberts. In that instant, the doctor declared; “Officer Palmer; Your nose is broken, my mind wondered, I have never had a broken bone before; I said to myself. Then the doctor continued, but the good news is, you will not need surgery to repair the broken nose;” I am going to make an appointment for you to have nasal manipulation.”


This time, I was back at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital with a different injury. The doctor was still moving his pen on the X-ray negatives, in a circle, in the general area he wanted me to pay close attention to; then he continued without establishing eye contact with me, still focusing on the X-ray, "Mr. Palmer, your jaw is broken.” Then he looked at me, with a smile on his face and said; “we have good news, "you don’t need surgery to repair the broken jaw. The Broken jaw will heal on its own in about five to six weeks.”


This injury was resulted from a love affair I started some years earlier. I found my first and true love and like a love sick teenager, I was having the time of my life. I did not allow anything to come between me and my new love; not even the incidents that resulted in broken bones. Life was not perfect, but I looked forward to each day. It was during this period of my life that I got to understand, the true meaning of the often used term: "when you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life."


I was having the time of my life; I was early for work, I left work late and I only missed work when I was too sick to function and that was rare; as a matter of fact, it happened once in fifteen years but I had sick leave twice. I had recently been transferred to the Chateaubelair Police Station. To me, being a police officer was an ongoing adventure and those who knows me, knows that I love a good adventure.


As kids; Bread-head (Garfield Mayers), Bony-mouth (Caswell Providence) and I loves adventures so much that we were always looking for new things to do and new ways to create adventures. This means we created and find dangerous things to do as kids. There was the time we made parachutes, from some thick plastic we found; after which, we went to the highest point on Zambie Rock to jump off. To date I am still the only person to jump from that rock with the homemade parachute.


This happened after Bread-head and Bony-mouth insisted that the parachute experiment, was my idea and it was only fair that I be the first person to test it out. It was only after I jumped from high rock, the parachute opened, and the wind took full control of me, almost slammed me into the rock face; but instead, the experiment ended in me landing on a rock that was submerged, two feet under the water, in an area people dont normally swim, that was laden with long tentacles Black Sea Eggs (Sea-Orchard). The Sea-Orchards is the main reason no one swims in that area.


This resulted in my foot, becoming filled with black Sea-Orchard tentacles. It was at this point, we realized, this adventure, although an exciting one, our lack of control over the parachute made it a dangerous one, that may result in even serious injuries, like broken bones etc. We were looking for fun, adventure and excitement not a stay in the hospital.


I remembered trying to enticed Bread head and Boney mouth into becoming police officer, when I was about to enlist. But the guys did not entertain the thought. In my mind, with our undying friendship, aquabatic skills, our courage, Street Sense, fighting skills, etc. the three of us would have made an awesome team.


Forget about SWAT, SSU and RRU, just call us to deal with your dangerous situations, we would have gotten the job done quicker, less messy, less expensive and with less blood. As teens, we have been in and gotten out of many sticky situation. As youth, we were the catalyst for each other. Most people, and a lot of my police colleague think I am very courageous, and I am, but they have never spent time with Bread-head; Bread-head is the most courageous man I have ever known. Yes Bread is more courageous than I am.


Many people think I am very analytical, and I am; most people can only see that in me because; most people have never spent time with Bony-mouth; Bony-mouth is the most tactical and analytical mind I have ever known and yes, Mouth is much more analytical than I am. However, I was smack in the middle of Bread Head and Boney Mouth in the area of courage and analyzing.


As a police officer you never know what will happen at any given moment. The dangers are real, the lives you touched are real, the problems you were required to deal with are real and your mistakes affected the live of real people in some crucially defined ways. Not being one to shun danger, or to shy away from a challenge, meant that I was actually having the time of my life and I was getting pay to have fun.


Now I had to adopt and learn about the people of Chateaubelair; I was now a member of the staff at the Chateaubelair Police Station. This came after some suspicious efforts, to get me to agree to a transfer to the Rapid Response Unit (RRU). It was suspicious because of the person who made the request and the fact the police force has a policy to send men to work where they are needed not where they want to go. At least that is the enforceable policy for unfavored people like me.


The force has just began to become the politically charge. And I was considered the outsider, a man who was not apart of the new political establishment. I knew I had to be careful, but I did not take my welfare seriously. This was so because I had this invincibility complex. I believed that nothing serious could ever happen to me. An injury here and injury there in the line of duty, but nothing really serious.


I had an advantage in working at Chateaubelair that the other staff members did not have; an advantage that I had nothing to do with my efforts. My father spent a lot of time, in Chateaubelair as a young shipwright (a ship builder), building cargo vessels and fishing, as a result; I was welcomed with open arms by the older head within the Chateaubelair community. People like Bunion the noted fisherman and businessman, May Dublin Justice of the Peace and businesses woman, Mrs. Michaels and the other elders of the community. Who knew and was friends with my father, looked out for me.


I also remember as a child, my father Hamilton often packed up a car, along with my sister Andrea and I and we all went on road trips. We went to different places and the custom was, daddy made stops, along the way to see those of his friends, whom he held dear, until it was time to return that evening. We often visited Bunion at his home; which was the second to last stop on the Chateaubelair trip.


Although I was too young to remember, the exact places and the people we visited so long ago, when I went to Mr. Bunion’s shop on liquor license check, the place look familiar, When I introduced myself to Mr. Bunion, he inquired if I was related to the Palmer’s of Bottom Town, when he discovered that Hamilton or old Palmer was my father; he opened up to me about his friendship with my father and the fact that they visited each other. It was from Bunion I learnt of my father’s activities in the town as a young man; and who he had hanky panky relationships with.


Added to my advantage, in the seventies (1970s) my big sister Chrisida also worked in Chateaubelair as a teen, she worked with the Canadian Save the Children Fund - Child Development program. While in the eighties (1980s) my other big sister Clare worked in Chateaubelair at the Levi Latham Health Center, as the Staff Nurse in charge of that hospital and the district. My father and siblings had established a good reputation of hard work, honesty and professionalism in the community and the people who knew them, although they did not say it, they expected the same from me. I did all in my power not to bring reproach, to the legacy my family had created, in the town of Chateaubelair; serving the people of the North Leeward district.


Another factor that made policing Chateaubelair special, was two members of the staff with whom I worked and the connection we had. There was only a handful of police officer who was from Kingstown, in the entire police force; however, at the Chateaubelair Police Station there were two assigned there. We quickly bounded because our perspective on life and policing were similar. The locality we were from and our experiences. Another thing the Police Force look suspiciously at members within the rank that are from Kingstown.


The two colleagues of which I speak; was Claudius Morgan a man I knew from my childhood and youth. I knew Claudius as a child attending the Kingstown Seventh Day Adventist Church. Claudius attended on special occasion with his aunt: Sister Morgan, they lived in a small suburban mountain neighborhood in north Kingstown called: Kingstown Park. Kingstown Park is the neighborhood between Sharps and Kingstown the city, and it located mid-way up that un-names mountain.


As teens, Claudius and I were a part of the roller skate craze and we all skated together on the street of Kingstown, putting our skills on display, as we roller skate alongside the motor vehicle traffic, dogging in and out of the traffic; stealing a tow by holding on to moving vehicle, sometimes holding onto vehicle that moved at very high speed. Back then we thought we were invincible.


Atland Brown on the other hand, was from and lived on the top of the unnamed the Mountain, on which the Village of Sharps was, while Claudius lived in the Middle of the Mountain Atland lived on the top of the Mountain. Atland and I did not share the type of friendship Claudius and I shared before we became police officers; however, I would have seen him around. The three of us shared a camaraderie that saw us sharing everything from food, advise, experiences, expertise and duties. At the time the Chateaubelair Police Station had a staff of four Constables’ one Station Sergeant and one Corporal.


In charge of the station was Station Sergeant (SS) Eckron Lockhart, and his second in charge was Corporal “Owl Face” James. One constable was transferred and we were awaiting his replacement. However we got the job done with one constable short.


The other members of the staff were afraid of the men that control the weed operation in the North Leeward area, which was led by a young man that went by the name of I-Pa; as a result, in the pass the staff that worked ignored reports and other complaint against I-Pa and his crew. SS Lockhart, who managed the Police Station, did not instructed anyone not to deal with any reports against those men, but he always say to us, you have to be careful, those men kill and buried many people in the mountains. And he did not demanded the timely resolution of matters that was reported against them either. However, although no one was instructed not to deal with any such reports, from their rhetoric, every one knew, what were expected and the other police officers avoided the weed men at all cost.


The friendship among the three officers from Kingstown really cemented when Atland complaint the big dog of the Petit Bordel weed-men: I-Pa. After he was found guilty, I-Pa met Corporal James and issued threats via the Corporal to PC Browne. Instead of rebuking the gunman/big weed man the Corporal took himself from the police action, and buried PC 23 Brown; giving the man who was believed to have killed several people, and bury them in coal pits in the Chateaubelair Mountain, the impression that it was ok to deal with PC Brown.


It was at this time Claudius and I send a clear and stern message to the other members of the staff at the Chateaubelair Police Station and the Petto Gun men that Atland Brown was not alone. We did this in our unification of our duties. We went out on duty together as a show of support for Brown. I took it one step further and I initiated the arrest of the same Gunman I-Pa, for driving while suspended. I seized his vehicle, which he abandon and I did this in the presence of and against the instructions of Station Sergeant Lockhart who told me leave him alone.


Now the station was being flooded with phone calls from Fitzhugh and Goulding, the two most westerly village in the City of Chateaubelair. There was a man with a history of mental illness: by the name of Brian who was experiencing a mental decline and he began to act up. Apparently Brian was a good man generally; however, he gets violent when he experienced a full mental decline. The people of Fitzhugh, knew the signs he exhibited, when he stopped taking his medication.

As a result, the members of the community always alert the police, who in turn, took the necessary steps to have him apprehended and taken to the doctor before he reached full mental decline. Myself and other went in search for and apprehend Brian before he went into full mental decline. I was new to the area; I did not know this and no one shared the information with me. However, by this time, Brian was in full mental decline and he had become a threat to the community.


As far as I was concerned, if there was a threat to the community, it was the police responsibility, to remove that threat from the neighborhood, before it becomes a danger to the other members of the community, even a danger to the police. This simple philosophy was my approach to policing.


One Morning, at about 3:30 am, we got ready to go in search of the subject. Morgan or Brown was off on weekend leave, and the other one was working Station orderly duties. On the mission were Station Sergeant Lockhart, Corporal "Owl face" James, the constable who was just transferred to the station, whose name I cannot remember and I. some of the officers had long police issue wooden baton, while others had short wooden baton, I never carry a baton. We managed to get into the house and get to the upper level of the two level houses and located the subject who was fast asleep, in a bathtub, within a master bedroom in the unfinished house. We managed to achieve all this without being detected.


The plan was, we will all enter the room where the subject was asleep, hold him down keeping him in the bathtub, while the person who was assigned, put on the handcuffs on the subject and take him into custody. All was going to plan; we entered the bedroom; as usual I took the lead, still without being detected by the subject. As a matter of fact, the subject was in full sleep mode. Still in the lead, We sprang on the subject and held him down inside of the Bathtub. While the assignee tried to put on the Handcuff. No one expected the subject to give up without a fight, when he was awakened, by the sudden rush of men, a struggle ensued.


By this time, the subject made it to his feet, I was holding onto a long police issued baton, which was in the subject’s hands. I did not know how he managed to get a hold of the baton. While both of us fought, I was still trying to contain the subject and I was doing really well in preventing the subject from leaving the bathroom area. At times I will release one hand from the baton, while keeping the other hand fixed firmly on the baton in order to wheel him back into the bathroom area. I wondered to myself; why no one is trying to put the handcuffs on the subject.


I had no clue of the circumstances that had arisen. I was still trying, my uttermost best, to keep the subject from leaving the bathroom. I knew if he was allowed to leave the confined area, then his escape was sure; and that will only make the police job much harder to apprehend him. I had the support and backing of my colleagues, at lease so I thought. Not understanding the circumstances that awaited me, I continues to prevent the subject from leaving the bathroom.

While my back was turned and my attention was focused on the restraint and the apprehension of Brian; one of my colleague took their baton; bottom first and wacked me in my jaw, rendering me unconscious. I fell to the floor on the bathroom. I did not know what transpired after I was rendered unconscious.


I do not know, for how long I was unconscious. It could not have been for too long; however, when I regain consciousness, I was in the room with the man who was in full mental decline; Brian was lifting me up from off of the ground; what he was going to do I did not know. However; When I went unconscious, I was in full fight mode and when I came through I was still in fight mode. By this time, Brian had lifted me, to my knees, he was still supporting my dead weight, when I regain consciousness.


Still in fight mood, I immediately restarted my efforts to apprehend Brian; as a result, I quickly made a conscious visual sweep of the bedroom, to locate my colleagues only to discovered that there were only two people in the unfinished master bedroom, and that was the subject and I. I am convinced that if the subject wanted to, he could have harmed me while I was unconscious; however, when I regain consciousness Brian was more interesting in running away, than doing me any harm. When Brian made his next move to get out of the bedroom, I did not make any effort to stop him. The man ran out of the bedroom, jumped through one of the windows and escape.


I came out of the bedroom and I looked for my colleague and they were not in the upper level of the house. I got to the lower level and they were not in the lower level of the house either. To my surprise, none of my colleagues were in the house. They had left me behind in the bedroom of the house leaving me with the man, who was in full mental decline, who was a clear danger. When I exited the house, I saw Station Sergeant Eckron Lockhart, Corporal Earl James and the newly transferred constable all standing outside near to the police vehicle. The look on their face was priceless; the men looked shocked to see me. I guess if they had the keys to the vehicle they would have left me behind.


I came out and I asked them what happened; I wanted to know why the three of them left me alone in the house with the mentally insane subject; who had a history of violence when he was in his current mental condition. No one had an answer, to justify their actions, It was then we return to the station, with the subject still at large.
Irealized I had severe pain whenever I try to eat, therefore, when I arrived at home on my day off, I brought my pain to my sister Clare's attention, who suggested that I go to the hospital to have my injury examined and diagnosed. it was this incident that brought me to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital to have my mouth examined. I was informed by the doctor that I have suffered a broken jaw.


Soon after I was transferred and later Ralph E. Gonsalves promoted Eckron Lockhart to Assistant Superintendent, and “Owl Face” James was allowed to work as a police without a contract for five years after his retirement; a small reward for trying to kill a colleague.

True Story - Allan Palmer, Daniel Cummings and the Church

Rambo (the name corporal Wickham called me) Come here man, Corporal Wendell Wickham exclaimed, I have a job for you. You are the only man who can handle this situation. I want you to go to Sharps, Sharps is a mountain village that is located on the northern part of Kingstown on the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It is a farm village that was slowly moving away from farming. The rapid move from farming has to do with the culture of the country, where the children often look down on the honorable means by which their parents use to cloth, feed, school and house them. The Corporal continued, there is a church in sharps that is disturbing the neighbor.

Rambo be careful he added, the man who is reporting the matter is the man who stoned the church, Corporal Wickham, then began to laugh uncontrollable; not wanting to give me the impression that it is a joking matter and therefore have me take the incident for granted and not give it the attention it deserved, he tried to stop his laughter and get serious, but he was unable to pull it together. The Corporal found it funny that someone will throw stones at a church they were having a dispute with; the corporal was still trying to regain his composure, realizing that time was slipping away and he was unable to composed himself, he said to me through a grin as he fight to hold back the laughter that was trying hard to break free of the corporal's efforts. A sign that he was not yet off of the funny high he had put himself on. “Rambo he said through his laughter, go and deal with the matter for me, do the best that you can I have faith on you”.

I went to Sharps Village, on my arrival to the location of the incident, I could hear the beautiful gospel calypso style music coming from the church, which was located below the road. When I ascertained where Daniel Cummings was living I realized the church was about ten feet from the nearest house and that house was Mr. Cummings' residence. A visit to Mr. Cummings gate revealed that he was awaiting the police arrival. I introduced myself and I ascertained that the loud music that was coming from the church was the problem that inspired the call to the police.

After I ascertained that church were the source of the disturbance, I asked Mr. Cummings to excuse me and I went to the church and I summoned the Pastor. I informed him that there is a complaint I was dealing with and I need his attention. The first thing I discovered the pastor and I had a problem hearing each other, so the first thing I did was to address the difficulty we were having communicating with each other; this was because of the loud volume of the sound that was coming from the church sound system. The pastor took the measures to have the music turned down. It was at this time, that I invited the pastor to accompany me to where Mr. Cummings was waiting in the public road. When we were all together, I sensed that both men were quite frustrated by the ongoing problem; as a result, they try to plead their case to me simultaneously. However, before the situation got out of control, I stopped both men and I told them, this is not going to break down into a verbal brawl, between both of you.

When I got the men's undivided attention again, I decided to try something I have never done before, I asked Mr. Cummings to come with me, I walked across the road and I asked Mr. CUmmings to explain to me what have been happening, it was then Mr. Cummings explained; this have been an ongoing problem, he also explained that he had called the police on numerous occasion and no one was able to bring a meaningful resolution to this problem. I listen intently to Mr. Cummings as he expressed his concern. I could feel Mr. Cummings frustration; not in what he said but from his tone voice. However, I was able to empathize with Mr. Cummings, because for years I had to put up with a noisy neighbor who played his amplified music at loud volume, to appease the patron who frequented his bar.

My sister Andrea and I called the police on numerous occasions, in order to get a resolution to the on going loud music problem. However, when the police attend the incident they became easily distracted. After the few futile visit by the police, my curiosity inspired a desire within me to find out what was going on when the police arrived to deal with the dispute. As a result, I positioned myself in a manner where I could observe the manner in which the police were dealing with the matter.

Each time we had reason to call the police, it seems like the same two police will always attend the incident. That told me one thing, which was: Senic “Banks” Lewis, the proprietor of the bar, the one who was playing the loud music, knew when his two friends Sgt. Andrews and Lenford Brewster were working, as a result, he took the liberty to play his music at exorbitantly loud volume, because they give him the leeway to.

On the arrival of the police, they will enter into the bar to speak to the owner, the police sat at the bar in the same manner a paying customer did, as the owner maintain his position behind the bar. Banks the owner of the Bar always lay drinks on the counter of the bar before the visiting police officers. Heineken Beer if it was Sgt. Andrews and Guinness Draught if it was Brewster. This was the officers drinks of choice. This became such a regular phenomenon that Banks no longer had to ask them what type of drinks they were having; he knew their drink of choice and he served up their drink of choice on each visit, As a result, they ignore all the weed smoking and sale of MX (a psychoactive pill that some people used to get a quick and sustained high) that was taking place on the property.

As a teen I felt helpless, however, I never forgot their faces, their names or the choice of drink the police officers consumed, as that betrayed the community and their oath. The police sat at the bar and they had three or four drinks before they left the premises and as soon as they left the offender's premises, the music went up even louder than it was before the police came.

In my case, I resolved the problem with Banks by observing Banks operation, where he kept his drugs, etc. I then wrote a nice little letter to the Commissioner of Police: Randolph Toussaint. In that letter I give an outline of Banks operation, I give a written layout of his business a description of the place where he hid his drugs when the police executed a search. I told them the best place to enter the business premises to avoid detection.

About two weeks later Senic “Banks” Lewis was behind bars; he was remanded in custody to await trial for possession for illegal drugs. When he called me an informer and accused me of informing on him and causing his arrest, I never denied it; I let him know that I will do it again if I had to. It was then he realized that I was not a youth to be messed with.

I understood firsthand what Mr. Cummings was going through and the frustration he must have felt to not get a resolution to this problem. However, it was my opportunity to bring resolution to Mr. Cummings problem, unfortunately he was up against a church, and most police officers will not want to be the one to interfere with the operation of the church. I felt Mr. Cummings frustration and the pain in his voice. I told him not to worry I will deal with this problem once and for all.

Upon excusing myself from Mr. Cummings, I told him, I am going to have a private conversation with the pastor of the church, I saw apprehension on Mr. Cummings face. However, he could not object or cry wolf, because I had a private conversation with him, while the pastor waited and he did not object to that. There is something one has to consider when dealing with grown men and their egos; and that is; you cannot make a man think you or his adversary made him do something he did not want to do. So I went to the pastor with that in mind; I said to him, I know you are dying to know what transpired in the discussion between Mr. Cummings and I. He said yes, I said that was a private discussion I had with Mr. Cummings and in the same way I am not going to discuss our conversation with him, I am not going to discuss the conversation, I had with Mr. Cummings with you.

I asked the pastor, why do you think it is necessary to have the speakers outside of the church blazing like that. The pastor explained there were some people on the hill who like to hear his message, but they don’t come to church, so he normally put the speakers outside so they can hear when he have church. I knew, If I wanted an lasting resolution to this problem, I could not tell a grown man to turn down the volume because it is the law and I am instructing you to, Because very soon he will find a reason to revert back to his old habit.

I asked him some questions beginning with: What does the bible say about preaching the gospel. He said what do you mean, I said to him didn’t Jesus say to go into all the world and preach the gospel, he answered yes, I also asked him if there is any old people living on the hill, He said he did not know, I also asked him if there were any sick people living on the hill he also replied, he did not know. I said now that is what Jesus meant when he said go into all the world and preach the Gospel. If you are the pastor of this area, you need to go an invite the people to church. I further said, if there is sick and or old people upon the hill who need to get their rest and the noise is stopping them from sleep thus you are preventing them from getting the rest they need to recover. I also reminded the pastor that Jesus give man free will and he never force them into Christianity.

I was about to make my last point, I wanted this point, to be the point that helped the pastor to empathize with Mr. Cummings plight and result in a full understanding as to what Mr. Cummings was going through. The points I made before was good points, I could see the pastor was deeply considering those points. I needed to present a stronger argument, if I was going to get the pastor to become a willing participant in the solution to this on going matter.

As a result I asked the pastor, a hypothetical question. a question which seems to have absolutely no value to the discussion we were having. I said pastor let us say you had a nasty splitting head ache which we all do at one point or the other, and the loud music and preaching in the church only made your head ache worst what will you do? He said I will leave the elder in charge and I will go home and rest until I was feeling better. I then follow up that question with another question, so what if Mr. Cummings has a nasty splitting head ache and the noise that is coming from the church made Mr. Cummings head cahe worst what should Mr. Cummings do?

there was no answer, but I could see the wheels of thought was turning over in the pastor's head. The pastor is not a bad man, he was just following common customs. I said to the pastor, do you see where I am coming from; I further said you and each of the members of your church at any time you choose to, can go to your home at any time during the service and enjoy the comfort of your home, however Mr. Cummings do not have that luxury; he has to put up with what you give him, until you think you had enough. It is then I tell him you have to be a good neighbor to Mr. Cummings; that is the basis of Jesus’ teaching to everyone.

The pastor agreed with me and he decided that it was in everyone's best interest if he turn down the volume on the system. It was at this time that I called Mr. Cummings and I told him that the pastor have agreed to turn down the volume in the sound system. The pastor give the instructions to turn down the music and I asked Mr. Cummings is that good enough, Mr. Cummings replied no it is still too loud, I asked the pastor to turn the volume on the sound system down a little more which he did. we did this about four times; then Mr. Cummings said the current volume was a volume that he could abide with. After he said that I asked him if he was sure and he replied yes, then I said to the pastor turn the volume down one more notch; and the pastor who was giving the instruction to turn the music down, passed on the instructions to the person in the church and they did as I recommended.

After which I excused my self and I returned to the station and reported to Corporal Wickham who detailed me to deal with the incident. From the best of my knowledge that was the last time the police was required to visit that conflict with the Church and Mr. Daniel Cummings. I visited and dealt with this incident "MORE THAN" sixteen years ago.

I do not remember the pastor's name, however, while I was in Dominica in 2008, I was driving through a rural village, When I heard some one shout my name, I said to myself, who could that be. A man came up to the vehicle I was driving and asked me if I remembered him. I told him no. It was then the man introduced himself as Pastor (I cannot remember his name) to avoid any further embarrassment I said O yes I remember you. I presumed it was the pastor of the incident we have a short friendly chat and we parted ways.

I have never discussed the details of this or any other incidents I dealt with as a police officer with anyone since I dealt with them, including this one so many years ago. I never discuss them in the swapping of police stories with colleagues, not even my sisters, friends or my children; I have never felt the need to. In this series of true stories you are privilege to get the inside information and the means I use in confronting the incidents I encounter and dealt with. I hope you appreciate them.

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True Story - I am going to kill that Police Officer: Allan Palmer

I am going to kill that police officer Allan Palmer was the public expression of Kushu, against the new police to the Georgetown Police Station. Many wondered what the new police did to anger the ignoramus Kushu, who is known for his violent temper. The machete he began to walk with, every way he went, was the tool he proposed to use; to take the life of police officer. 

It all began many months before; I was transferred to the Georgetown Police District in the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Some months before, a young schoolteacher was trying to get out of a relationship she had started with older man minivan operator, who though he owns all rights to this young educator. Justina Pompey had paid several visits to the Georgetown Police Station and made several reports the most serious amount up to rape and kidnapping.The reports were made against the man she had been trying to terminate her relationship with. She was unable to get the rid of the older man and she was unable to get the police to entertain her reports. 

Kushu, was the subject of Jestina’s reports to the police, the man she was trying to unsuccessfully end her relationship with. Kushu was a popular minivan operator, who plied his trade on the Windward side of the island. He was a reckless but skilled commercial passenger minivan driver, as a result of his driving skills he became very popular with the people from on the Windward side of the Island. He traveled from the Capital Kingstown to Georgetown and beyond almost eight to ten times a day. He was also friendly with the district police especially the police that worked at the Georgetown Police Station; the place where Jestina went on several occasions, to get redress for her plight. Her report against her ex who often, force her into the vehicle he was driving against her will, drive to his home, lock her in his house from Friday and kept her there all weekend; he made frequent visit to his home to pleasure himself without her participation and or consent. He also pass by the house to bring her food so she will not starve to death. He constantly threatened to harm her, if she left the house unless he let her out. 

Jestina was young, afraid and with no one to help her, she tried the police but not even the police was willing to take any actions against her assailant. Jestina had a brother who was also a police, but he could not have gotten involved because of the department he was working. He was an intelligence officer and his identity as a police officer was concealed from the public. However, certain police like me knew who he was and what his role was. William Harry was the Deputy Commissioner of Police and he was the senior intelligence officer. When member of the intelligence arms of the police force had any difficult situation that requires police intervention, the officers are required to report their concerns to their Intelligence Officer or to the Chief Intelligence Officer and he will put the necessary mechanism in place without compromising the identity of the intelligence officer to have the matter dealt with by the uniform police or detectives. 

The situation was serious, the young teacher was faced with a life threatening situation, where on a daily basis she was a victim of serious crimes, and the police was not taking any action to bring some form of redress to the educator’s crime problem. 

Mr. Harry in his capacity of Deputy Commissioner of Police was responsible for the general transfer of the member of the force, and was responsible for my transfer. By this time, I have been known by police management as a hard and dedicated worker, and as a no nonsense fellow as it related to the execution of my lawful duties. 

There was a small transfer that involved a few men that took immediate effect; I was a part of that transfer. I was sent to Georgetown Police Station. On my arrival to Georgetown, The None Commission Officer (NCO) on duty took me out to introduce me to the community. As he drove the vehicle he told me the names of the street, and the locality, he also pointed out, people, residence, businesses and other things of police interest. We were driving north along a lonely farm road, on the eastern side of the road were Banana plantation and on the western side there was dense jungle like vegetation. The NCO quickly brought the police vehicle to a sudden stop. I was wondering what required such urgency, I did not see anything out of the ordinary, and then he reversed the police vehicle and he began to speak to a young woman; whose name I later learned to be Jestina. She and the NCO appear to be friends, she boarded the vehicle and both Jestina and the NCO engaged in discussion on a matter I had no knowledge about. 

Jestina later disembarked the transportation at her home, after which we return to the station. The following day the young woman came to the Georgetown Police Station, where I was on duty as the station orderly. The responsibility of the station orderly, is to entertain all reports and to ensure that all reports and all activities that occurred in the police station are recorded in the Station Diary. This entry must outlined as much detail as possible and should include, the date and time the person came to the station; the date, the time and the place and the type of incidents they are reporting. The reports must be entered into the appropriate register e.g. Crime in the crime register, petty offence in the petty offence Register, accident in the accident register etc. Each report must be cross-referenced with the appropriate register with the Station Diary. This give any senior officer the ability to get an overview of what had happened in the station over the period. 

It was the station’s officer responsible to update the Crime and Accident registers, but it fall onto the responsibility of the Station Orderly to update the Crime Register, accident register, prisoner property register; the exhibit register among others. 

When Jestina arrived to the station’s office, I though she came to speak to the NCO who give her the ride home on the day before. However, she informed me that she came to speak to me. Therefore, I took her into the little room that was reserved for holding private discussion with members of the community who was making reports. It was then she disclosed to me, the horrific situation that confronted her. What made the matter worst, was the fact that she told me, she came to the police station several time before and reported the matters to the police and they did nothing, no statement was recorded, no crime report entered; absolutely nothing was done. 

This was disturbing, so I went back into the station office, I pulled out the Crime Register and I panned through that log only to discover there was no record of a report made by Jestina. I went through the Station Diary, and there was an entry where Jestina came to the station making a complaint. However, the detail of the complaint did not amount to anything; and there were no cross reference, therefore the officer who took the report did not take a report of a crime. 

I went and I discussed the matter with the NCO in charge of the station. To my surprise he said, “the man loves the woman,” and that was it; I could not believe this was coming out of the mouth of a police supervisor. I then said to him, this man is accused of kidnapping, rape and violence related crimes and you guys, have not taken a report from her.

I went back to speak to Jestina; I said to her, I know this is a relationship issue and there is a trend with such complainant, when people have a misunderstanding in their relationship they try to use the police as a tool of revenge. However, I want you to return home and come back to the station tomorrow and I will take a statement from you and enter a report. 

The following morning, bright and early before she went to work Jestina came to the station and I recorded a statement from her, however, I had problems from the supervisor entering the report in the crime register; the first problem had to do with the location where some of the incidents took place. The most serious of the incidents that she was reporting occurred in the Stubbs Police District. 

There were people behind the scenes that was trying to ensure that this matter die a natural death; they were not willing to deal with the lady’s report and for reasons still unknown to me, they were hampering me from bringing resolution to the problem that confronted this school teacher. 

I had recorded a statement from the victim and I have made the necessary entries in the station diary; however, it is not a criminal report until it is entered into the Crime Register. It was Thursday morning and there was a report of a dead man in the sea at Sandy Bay. Cpl. “Wanger” James who was transferred from the narcotic unit to the Georgetown Police Station a week before I arrived at Georgetown and I was delegated the responsibility to look into that matter. We discovered that the decease man was a Dominican and we also had a person of interest into the homicide, it was our responsibility to determine if the homicide was a murder or an accident. We took the person of interest into custody on suspicion of Murder and on unlawful entry into the country, while we investigate the matter. 

The prisoner had one concern and that was to get word to his family and the family of the decease of the current situation. Because we could not make overseas call from the police station. We took the prisoner to the pay phone which was located on Bay Road, in the area of the Post office and the National Commercial Bank. I was about three feet away from the suspect with my back turn to the road, observing the suspect, James was standing by the pay phone operating the phone and making the initial contact to ensure that we were not assisting in the cover up of a crime. The suspect in hand cuffs standing next to Cpl. James, awaiting to speak to the contact. He was allowed to pass on specific information, as to where he was, that he was involved in an accident at sea and his traveling companion is dead, and they must informed the relative of his traveling companion of his location and his death. 

While James and I stood there in the slightly lights sidewalk, I heard with a voice behind me say, are you Police Palmer, I took a step to my right and I turn around in the process. I saw a man who appear to be in his fifties standing behind me. I then said I am Palmer. I hear you want to see me he said. I replied to the man I do not know who you are and I have never requested to see anyone. 

He then asked: “Are you the officer who is dealing with the report that was made by Jestina. I said years I am, then he introduced himself as Kashu. I said O yes I will like to speak to you, but I am busy now, then I invited him to the station in an hour. He said he was unable to so I requested that he come  to the station tomorrow. I could not take any chance because I was not sure if this fellow was who he said he was or an accomplice in the homicide or his objective. I did not want to compromised the safety of my fellow officer, the prisoner of my safety. 

However, the man insisted that he will not be able to return to the station and proceeded to tell me some stories to justify his actions and to get me to abandon the matter. I told him if all that you have told me is the truth, they are all good reason for any sensible person to abandon the relation and leave the girl along. I also told him with no uncertain terms that the reports that is made against him are all serious reports and he need to return to the station as soonest so we can resolve this matter. I also pointed out to him that it is not convenient for me to address anything he have said or to give him my focus at this time because we are dealing with another serious incident right now. 

James become concerned at the fact that this suspect was able to locate us when we were out dealing with a sensitive matter and he wondered, who told this suspect in the Jestina's matter of the report made against him but more importantly how told him where to find us. 

I had the weekend off and I returned to work early on Monday morning, on my arrival to the station, a phone call came into the station that, Kushu was seen hiding behind the wall of the school where Jestina worked with a cutlass/machete in his hand. the reports also said that the machete was sharpened back and belly. Jestina’s collegue and best friend Jasmine Jackson apparently saw Kashu and suspected that he was up to know good, and try to get word to Jestina to inform her of the current situation. At that time, Jestina was on her way to work, she was leisurely walking up the road that lead to the school, where he ex-boyfriend was awaiting her. She was walking into a hidden danger; everyone was on edge, the news quickly spread, that Kushu was hidden away behind a wall near to the school awaiting the arrival of his ex-girlfriend.

Most people were afraid to get involved because Kushu had a reputation of being an ignoramus and they did not want to cross him. Here we have this poor lady about to unknowingly walked into the valley of the shadow of her death and no one was willing to warned her of the waiting danger. However, someone told her what they have observed and she quickly got into the next minivan and went to the Georgetown Police Station. 

While Jestina was on the way to the police station, Myself and one of the None Commission Officers, who have been ignoring the reports of crimes against the school teacher was dispatched to deal with the matter. I was driving the transport, the station had a faulty revolver that would not have been effective in this case, so the NCO grab a long baton, and we were off to try to apprehand the machete wheeling assailant. By the time we got to the scene of the incident the assailant saw the police vehicle coming and ran away from the scene. We search the general area where the assailant was but he was nowhere to be found. 

This was the beginning of two long week of cat and mouse. News reach the police that the Assailant Kushu was heard publicly saying that he is going to kill the teacher and then he is going to kill police Allan Palmer. Strangely, I was not afraid of Kushu and I was not afraid for my life. That was because of the fact I had an invincible mentality syndrome. I was not afraid and honestly believed that if the assailant attacked me he will not get the opportunity to use his machete against me. 

Kushu had an advantage, he had a vehicle, the Minivan that he was haired to transport passengers with and he used the vehicle strategically. He was using this vehicle as a tool of escape. He was in the habit of parking the vehicle in a strategic place; after which he walked to his destination with his machete in hand. He had the entire community on edge. The station was flooded with phone calls of sighting of the assailant. Each time we arrive on the scene where Kushu was seen, he was never there. 

By this time, the Corporal was expressing his worries and dissatisfaction with the series of events. Each time a sighting of the Machete bearing assailant was reported to the officer in charge of the district: Cornelius Charles; his instruction was always clear; Instruct the same Corporal and Palmer to go to and deal with the incident. I was always ready to go, I wanted the assailant off the street. Unfortunately, it did not matter how fast I drove we could never catch up with the assailant. 

I asked the Corporal to request the owner of the van whom he knew, to take the vehicle from the assailant on the grounds his vehicle were used to commit several serious crimes and is being used as an aid, in a potential violent crime. I cause this plan to be put in place to take away Kushu’s means of transportation and in turn, take away his ability of evading the police. Kushu was one of the best minivan drivers there was, and he love going at extremely fast rate of speed; it mattered not if his vehicle was loaded down with passengers. Added to that he also knew all of the back roads in the district, I was of the opinion if he was without a vehicle we will be able to catch him. 

The owner of the minivan did not take his van from Kushu, apparently the owner was afraid of Kushu and did not want to anger him any further by taking the van from him. He was not sure how the man who appear to have been having a mental breakdown would react and he was not willing to find out. One day, we got a call that alerted us of the sighting of Kushu, when the Corporal and I arrived on the scene, I noticed the van Kushu normally drive was parked at the side of a dirt road, next to the beach; but Kushu was nowhere to be seen. I told the Corporal, I am going to remove all the wheels from the vehicle. 

The Corporal insisted that I could not remove the tiers from the van and he gave some useless explanation as to why I could not take the actions I wanted to. Although the corporal was my supervisor, I told him, I do not care about that, this vehicle was used in the commission of some serious crimes, and it is being used to execute dangerous threats to the life of a member of the civilian population and to the police and I am removing the wheels from the vehicle. 

I went into the police vehicle, I got the wheel spanner and the jack, I took my time I Jacked up the van and I removed the tiers one by one replacing the tiers with concrete blocks that were next to an unfinished building nearby. I put each of Cushu’s vehicle tiers into the police vehicle. Went I was finished, I went back to the Georgetown Police Station. Where I made a record of the actions I took and the property I ceased. I also took the liberty to secure the properties that I ceased. 

The next day Jestina have left St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the first flight out of the country that morning. She left in fear for her life. While I was at the station, I got information that Kushu who was now without any means of transportation, had boarded a minivan heading to Kingstown. The Corporal was not at the station, so the Sergeants of police in charge of the station and I went to the incident; our first objective was to catch up with the minivan before Cushu reach his destination and to apprehend him. 

I got a visual of the minivan in Bridgetown Biabou, about half of a mile from the Town of Biabou where the assailant lived. However, several vehicles separated me from the minivan which transported the assailant. 

At that era of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, the police vehicles were not equipped with emergency lights and sirens, so we were limited in to what we were able to do. Most of the time when we were in pursuit of an assailant we took a lot of risk. Now I was about to take a big risk. The roads Biabou are narrow, and there were open drainages on the northern side of the road and a cliff on the southern side of the road in most cases the cliff were more than fifty feet abyss and below was the beach or some houses. Any mistake was dangerous to me, my passengers and other road users and may cause lost of life.

I hoped no vehicles was coming in the opposing direction; as soon as the road was clear I sank the accelerator, and I quickly change a series of gears to cause the vehicle to achieve maximum acceleration in the shortest period of time and I flew pass no less than four minivans and two cars that made up the line of vehicle that separated, the police from the vehicle that the Assailant was in. This sudden and unexpected move by me caught the Sergeant by surprised; his immediate response was to hold onto the bar at the glove compartment in the vehicle while pressed his feet into the floor of the vehicle, and he jammed his back into the back of the seat wherein he sat which reinforced his body just in case there was an impact. Then the Sergeants exclaimed with great concern in his voice “Palmer what yo doing”.

I manage to make it to the front of the line of vehicles that were ahead of me safely. I notice the vehicle that was carrying Kushu stopped to carry out some passenger transaction, I then pulled the police vehicle in front of the vehicle that Kushu was being transported in, I was mindful to cause the vehicle back wheel to skid making an loud noise that would have alarmed the passengers in the van and as such show Kushu the urgency and the seriousness of which the police was taking this matter. 

I knew the police in the station where I have been working was afraid of Kushu, So I took the lead and I then jumped out of the police vehicle and the Sergeant followed me, I went to the van passenger door and I said Kushu come out of the vehicle. It was at this time the sergeant, came and said to me Palmer let me deal with him, because you are too involved with the incident. I stepped aside and allow the Sergeant to make the arrest and to handcuff him. We then drove, to Kingstown where the assailant was charge and taken to court. 

Kushu was Fortunate, Justina never return to St. Vincent and his case was dismissed for a lack of prosecution. A few years later, the police arrested and charged Kushu once again; but this time he was charged for wounding with intent. Kushu attacked his live in girlfriend with a machete and she was not as fortunate as Jestina was. Kushu chopped up the woman as a resulted the woman, his girlfriend was hospitalize with several chop would about her body. He was later found guilty and sentence to do a prison sentence for that crime. 

True Story - PC 82 Cordell Campbell frighten but not afraid

The year was 2003, at this point in my policing career, I was assigned to the Biabou Police Station; I was a season police officer and have already dealt with a wide verity of infractions, traffic and criminal offences and have had assignment the length and breadth of the main land St. Vincent.

One of the police supervisors, who for reason unknown to me, developed a healthy confidence in my policing abilities, was Corporal Wendell Wickham.  Wendell Was assigned to the Central Police Station (CPS) Beat and patrol; Wickham was a serious yet funny supervisor; who have worked in a variety of departments and stations. He was confident in his ability to do his job. Although Mr. Wickham is serious in his official duties, he always finds some time to heckle others and no one was immune to his heckling. While I was assigned to the Transport Section where my main duties were driving; Cpl. Wickham, for some strange reason decided that his name for me was: Rambo. This was as a result of my general work ethic and my attitude to work.

I had just return to the Biabou Police Station, from my schedule day off and was about to get settled in to work the weekend, when I got a call that I must get ready to report for duty at the Caliaqua Police Station. I cannot remember what had happened at that Station that required me to spend the weekend there however I had no say in the matter. This was so because Superintendent Cornelius Charles had managerial control of the South Western District of which Calliaqua and Biabou Police Stations was a part. My move was within his control and those where his order.  

On my arrival to the Calliaqua Police Station, I saw Cpl. Wendell Wickham at the Calliaqua Police Station. He was in the station's office in uniform, on duty as the station officer. He greeted me: Rambo, it was then he explained. I was asked to work at Calliaqua Police Station for the weekend, and as they needed a driver I asked for you; hence the reason you are here. While I had no choice in the matter, Cpl. Wendell Wickham’s temporary assignment had to take some negotiation, because SOP Charles did not have managerial supervision over this cpl who were very vocal and adamant as to how he was used. 

One of the things I noticed when I arrived at Calliaqua Police Station, that I did not pay attention to before was; there were a lot of young police officer with one year of less experience assigned at the Station. Among the police officers was Police Constable (PC) 82 Cordell Campbell. I got to know Cordell when I was working at CPS, he was fresh out of training school. I do not know what attracted this young man to me, but he was always around asking questions. Uncle Palmer was what he called me, at first I wondered if Cordell was the son of my brother who lived and ran a business in the Mesopotamia where Cordell was from. However, I remembered my little brother Jeremiah “Jerry” Cuffy also called me uncle P. For Jerry that was his way of paying me homage, for my involvement in his life. As a result, I took Cordell’s name as a mark of his respect for me.

It was Sunday morning; the weekend was running smoothly, nothing out of the ordinary had happened thus far. I was in the kitchen with some of the young guys just chatting. It was then Cpl. Wickham summoned me to the station office, there he informed me of an incident that he wanted me to attend. He told me to take some of the guys, whom he named and then he dispatched me to deal with the incident. I have gone to and deal with countless incidents on Cpl. Wickham’s instructions, most of the time I went solo. However, today I had four young police officers including PC 82 Campbell on this mission. At this stage, PC Campbell was fresh out of the police training school; and the most senior police of the lot had under two years policing experience.

We were off to deal with an incident. There was a crazy man in the Fair Hall area, who was throwing large stones into the residence glass sliding doors and glass window. Our assignment was to apprehend that assailant, and transport him back to the station. Where he will be dealt will as pa the law and police policy; In this instant several things could happen to him, upon apprehension; but we were going to do on of two things. We can take the assailant to the district medical doctor, we will inform the doctor, of the assailant's history of mental illness, the district doctor will then evaluate him and cause him to be transported to and be further examined by and committed to the Mental Health Center (the institution where people with mental problem are house and treated) or we can take him to the court on Monday and have the Magistrate determine his fate.

In this situation, because of the fact he had already committed several crimes, his best bet will be, he will be kept in custody and taken before the Magistrate at the most convenient time. The Magistrate will be made aware of the his mental history; the Magistrate will more than likely cause the assailant to be sent to the Mental Health Facility to be evaluated; upon completion of which, the magistrate will decide if he is fit to stand trial for his miss deeds. This decision was out of our hand at this point, our responsibility, is to apprehend the assailant take him into custody and put the community back at ease.

When we got to the area where the assailant had struck, I notice there were lots of people in the road, they were all looking up onto the ten feet bank that over looked the road; I also noticed that some of the people were pointing up. from our position in the transport, it was impossible to see onto the bank above. We were just about to begin to solicit information from the on lookers concerning the incident.

It was then I heard the impact, that sound like a stone smashing glass. Before I realized what have happened, or react to the situation we were there to deal with; the scenario took a drastic turn. Now the police had become the victim of a crime committed in the view of over forty people.

The assailant was standing on the bank located above the road; he took a stone the size of a soccer ball and threw it into the driver side windscreen of the police vehicle. Some of the splinters stocked me in my face and immediately began to bleed. The guys though I was seriously injured, and began to panic. At the top of their voice in a panic, they began to shout Palmer lets go back to the station. I looked back and the only one who was not shouting was PC 82 Cordell Campbell, however there was a look of serious concerned on his face. I calm the guys down and I told them don’t worry about me, my injuries are not serious. Then in a less hysterical tone they suggested that we return to the station.

I turn to the group of young inexperience police officers and I said: look guys, we are police officer; it is our responsibility to protect the community, that is what we are paid for. The community is in distress and we cannot turn our backs on the people and run. We have an obligation to the people to do all in our power to restore order to the community.

By this time, the Stone throwing crazy man had relocated. I parked the damage vehicle and we all disembark, I said to the four guys, you all stay together, go down that road if you see the assailant one of you come back and get me. Do not attempt to apprehend him by yourself. If you don’t see the crazy man return to the police vehicle. I informed then where I am going and what I was going to do. I said to the other officers, I am going down this road to look for the crazy man.

I knew that there is strength in numbers and the more of them the more confidence the group will be. I also knew, if they saw I was willing to go in pursuit of this mentally unstable man on my own; the four of them could not back down. 

Therefore, we parted ways with one mission to locate the man who has been terrorizing the neighborhood. While I was walking down the side road, someone passed and addressed me; the person called the assailant by his name and said to me, he is down there. There was a house about forty feet away from the road, down a grassy incline. On closer inspection, below the grassy incline was a wall, unpainted split-level house. There was a man standing on the veranda that is a part of the split-level house, there was another man standing at a partially ajar glass sliding door, he had his body in the house and his head hanging out of the slide door, speaking to the man that was standing on the veranda; there was also a woman and two young girls at a window looking on. This is a common view in Small communities where everyone knows everyone. Therefore, I made my way down the little hill and over to the house, now I was close enough to get a clear view of all the people at the house. I looked on the face of the children and I notice they were afraid. So I knew that I have found the suspect.

I was not afraid but was very concerned; in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, many people believe that a mentally ill person develops superhuman strength and the ordinary person is no physical match for such a person. I looked back but the other officers were not in sight. I know I have to do this, I hate the feel of fear, and I love my self-respect; So I bravely walked onto the poach, which was about ten feet from the top of the banister to the grassy yard below. I took hold of the assailant by his arm, and I said to him “come with me”. The crazy man pulled his hands away from me and when I gripped his arm once again, he held on to me and we began to struggle. I held him and I managed to push him into the wall and pinned him to the wall; however, the mentally unstable fellow was still fighting back.

As a result, of the assailant’s continues resistance; I asked the man in the house to help me put the hand cuff on to the suspect but he stood in front of the door not changing his position from when I first saw him and he just look at the struggle. When I realized the man in the house was not going to render any assistance, I turn my full focus back to the assailant. While looking up to the road to see if any of my colleagues was in view.

As a result, the suspect continued to resist my efforts to put the old rotary handcuff upon his hands; while trying to get away from me at the same time. It was not too long before, my struggle to put the handcuffs onto the suspect turned into a fight to prevent the suspect from escaping; to prevent myself from getting injured and causing injury to the suspect also. Most police officer often forget that they have an obligation, to the community which includes a suspect, to ensure as little harm as possible come to any person upon whom they are effecting an arrest.

The assailant and I fought with different objectives in mind, he wanted to escape and I wanted to ensure that he did not escape, as well as, to ensure that the suspect was properly restraint. As a result, of the ongoing struggle, the assailant and I fell over the banister. We fell to the ground, fortunately for me, I fell of the man who was somewhat bigger than the skinny police officer that I was.  I continue to tussle with the suspect; I kept looking up to see if any of my colleagues were on their way to render well-needed assistance.

Then, I saw the appearance of my four colleagues on the top of the hill. I could not wave them over, because both of my hands were occupy, and I was too exhausted to shout. I knew they saw me, but they were walking towards me with no sense of urgency. I was never happier to see my colleagues, but it was just as if they were not there, because they were of no help. I was shocked, it was then I hear someone shout, “boy its uncle Palmer”, and he began to run with full speed in my direction.   

When he got to me, he rendered vital assistance; PC 82 Cordell Campbell cuffed the mentally unstable suspect. Then he said Uncle Palmer are you OK. After the assailant were handcuffed, Cordell and I stood the assailant up, to take him to the transport to be transported back to the station; After the assailant was taken in custody by PC 82 Campbell, was then the others began to show some sense of urgency and started running to the scene of the arrest.

A a few months later, I resigned my post with the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force after I was offered and accepted a job with the Bermuda Police Service; I later traveled  to Bermuda and became a member of the Bermuda Police Force. In November of 2004, I return home on two weeks vacations and I was informed that the mentally unstable fellow, who we apprehended on that day, was in prison facing a murder charge, because he later killed someone. I hope it was not that fellow whose house he was about to destroy who refused to render assistance to the police, in restraining the insane assailant when I asked him for his help.

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