Dear Editor:

Please allow me the opportunity to respond to the Letter to the Editor by Forrester Carroll published on Saturday, December 6, 2008 in The Freeport News under the caption "Some Detainees used as Punching Bags."

Crime in our country has escalated to the maximum level and when we consider the amount of young men picked up and charged by the police and subsequently convicted by the courts and sent to prison, we might want to believe that the police have a handle on crime. The truth of the matter is that many of these young men are beaten, battered and terrorized into making a confession as they fear for their lives. The barbaric actions of the police officers will more than likely stir up anger and rage in the innocent young men and cause them to retaliate and become uncaring about the law and disrespectful to the police. After all, the law enforcement officers can blatantly disobey the law with no recourse or actions taken against them.

Whatever happened to the days when a police officer would properly investigate a matter before he goes out and drags somebody's innocent child into a cell and if he calls someone in for questioning release the suspect for lack of evidence? Gone are the days when police officers take the time to do a proper investigation. Their only desire is to wrap up the case quickly so that they can get a promotion and/or a medal for solving crime.

It is simple – if you do not have adequate evidence, release the suspect and keep working on the case. You will get the break you need because you will find a more cooperative and friendly public that will provide you with the 'information' that you need for solving crimes. Our country is so small that it is rare that someone does not know what someone else is doing.

Coincidentally, on Saturday, the same day that Carroll's letter was published in your newspaper, a young man was brought to The Rand Memorial Hospital after he was allegedly beaten about the body by members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Criminal Investigation Dep-artment. The young man further alleged that he was choked until he foamed and that his legs were pulled apart, so that the Officers could beat him in the groin area, specifically on his penis and scrotum until they bled. He walked into the emergency room of The Rand Memorial Hospital with his legs about four feet apart as he groaned and screamed from the severe pain. It is highly likely that his kidneys are damaged. He was brought into the hospital by police officers after allegedly sustaining injuries while in their custody.

While the scenarios play out with persons in custody and the officers go one step too far, there is a greater injustice here on Grand Bahama and I dare say the entire Bahamas. That is the deafening silence from the Assistant Commis-sioner of Police in Grand Bahama, who I am sure is aware of the many complaints piled up on the desk of the Internal Complaints Unit regarding police brutality.

If the powers that be were serious about reprimanding and dealing with the criminal elements within the Royal Bahamas Police Force, something would have been done. But then again, perhaps it is no wonder that crime is spiralling out of control in The Bahamas today. Perhaps the men in khaki do not have a clue about what to do or perhaps they lack the courage and have decided to let the rogue cops take over the Police Force.

Is there anyone out there with the courage to help stop the members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force from killing the spirit and goodwill of our young men? I am not suggesting that if they did the crime they must go free, because I believe that if they commit the crime, they must pay according to the laws on the books not the vigilante stance that our police officers have taken. We know of many incidents that were taken to the extreme and irreversible damage done due to error in judgment. I cry shame and disgrace on those members of the Police Force. They are no different or better than the criminals on the street; they are just better dressed in pretty uniforms with a badge.

I call on the Prime Minister, parliamentarians, senators, the acting commissioner of police, the minister of national security, the attorney general, human rights activists, civic leaders, and members of the clergy to address these alleged horrific criminal acts of violence by police officers before we have an explosion between our young men and the police.

Acting Commissioner Fer-guson, how much more must die in your care before you put the brakes on? You are supposed to care about all members of our society, persons in police custody and persons in the community. You should have a zero tolerance policy on police brutality. Granted there are some honourable police officers and I know this problem didn't start on your watch. But, Sir, could you or will you find the courage to stomp it out?

Yours sincerely,

Naomi Clarke