Dennie Quill, Contributor
AS THE negotiation battle between the police and the government heats up I find myself thinking about whether or not the taxpayer should be tapped again and again. I recognise that the job of policing is sometimes dirty and always dangerous, but so many members of our police force misrepresent their uniform, which explains why they are unable to drum up a groundswell of support for their cause.
Let's consider some of the ways in which the police have failed the citizens of this country. Maybe like me you live in a community where you are forced to pay hefty fees to a private security firm to provide surveillance for you and your property. This is because the police have demonstrated its inability to protect us.
Maybe, like me, you know persons who have been victims of crime - robbery, fraud, assault etc., whose cases have died in some police station with little or no investigation being done. I know for certain that the policeman investigating a recent robbery in the Kingston 6 area took a statement from the homeowner but failed to ask even one question of neighbours or workers in the area. I am told this is not unusual. The feeling is that stolen items are usually insured and can be replaced and in the absence of death or injury, such cases are not treated with any urgency.
HORROR STORIES
Maybe, like me, you have heard horror stories of policemen implicated in selling guns and ammunition or drugs. Maybe like me you live in a neighbourhood where you are bombarded by thumping sound systems night after night and typically get a "why-are-you-bothering me" response when you call 911.
Maybe you live in a community where you have witnessed the police unleashing their lethal power in an abusive manner, especially when dealing with teenagers.
Maybe, like me, you have heard horror stories of policemen who are engaged in illegal activities like extortion and shaking down of persons who are on the wild side of the law.
Maybe, like me, you have witnessed motorists flagrantly breaking the law and your relief at seeing a police vehicle turns to dismay when they just drive by without a care in the world.
I often heard it said that the majority of policemen and women are decent, hard-working, professionals. I used to believe it. But over time as the stories multiply - credible stories of police abuse, I am led to acknowledge that the thing is widespread.
The officer corps of the Force has done a poor job of protecting the community from rogue cops. Accountability is the most important factor in police/community relations and when this is missing it creates an atmosphere of distrust among citizens.
ACCUMULATE LEAVE
But back to the salary issue. I understand that police officers are allowed to accumulate leave and this can be saved up for years and years and when they retire they are paid for this unused time which is calculated at their most recent rate of pay. Many of us would love such a benefit. Then there are some policemen and women who are able to use the service vehicles to transport their children and spouses to and from work - it's a luxury available to precious few in the workforce.
Many policemen and women are degreed individuals - allowed time to study, in some cases for graduate degrees, while holding down their jobs. On the face of it, the benefits are not as bad as some people make out.
The events of last week indicate that the Government is nowhere near reaching a new wage contract with the police. So how about considering a merit-based system? This system which links performance standards with salaries and promotions is gaining acceptance all over the world. A raise is usually determined by an annual evaluation which assesses goals that were agreed at the start of the year.
So why don't we identify the performers in the Force and pay them well? Hard work and good performance should be adequately compensated. The policeman, who must face the streets where murder and mayhem are lurking, should be better compensated than the policeman who attends court all day and then returns to the bosom of his family before nightfall.
Such higher individual performance would be reflected in a lower crime rate and a more peaceful society.
Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be contacted at denniequill@hotmail.com
