Senior Counsel Larry Lalla describes the communication from the Police Service regarding the arrest, questioning, and release of Commissioner Erla Christopher as weak and unfortunate.
He says there is need to give the public clarity on what the situation is, with regard to the office of Police Commissioner.
00:00Commissioner Harewood Christopher through her attorneys has sent a legal
00:04letter to the Police Service Commission demanding that her suspension be
00:08rescinded. The notice from the Police Service Commission dated January 31st
00:14informed her that she was to cease to report for duty and to cease the
00:19discharge of duties of the Office of the Commissioner of Police with immediate
00:23effect until further notice. Senior Counsel Lala tells TV6 the entire
00:29situation has been poorly managed.
00:33And the way the communication has taken place from the TTPS to the public, it leaves a lot to be desired and it gives the impression that things were done in an unfair, improper, high-handed and abusive manner.
00:51Harewood Christopher is also demanding that she be allowed to resume duty. She is
00:56further demanding that the letter sent to the President nominating DCP Junior
01:01Benjamin as acting top cop be withdrawn. Today Lala, Senior Counsel, is expressing
01:08concern over what may transpire if Harewood Christopher's suspension is revoked.
01:13The Commissioner is being arrested and interviewed and the senior ranks of the
01:21Police Service stand up behind these officers as though they have taken sides
01:27and that is wrong because suppose tomorrow the entire case against the
01:35Commissioner collapses and she has to go back to perform her functions but she
01:40has apparently until May, I think, under her contract. How is she going to operate in the Police Service with all of these officers who stood there at that interview?
01:52Additionally, he notes, the atmosphere will have tensions if Harewood Christopher is returned to office under the current circumstances.
02:00It will raise very interesting industrial relations and if not constitutional issues because under the Constitution, the Commissioner of Police is charged with the responsibility of disciplining all officers under the rank of DCP. So, I mean, it will be very interesting.
02:21He says the Police Service Commission must move quickly with this investigation because some constitutional issues may arise. He says if the investigation is prolonged until the end of her contract in May, it can be seen as intentional. The Senior Counsel warns that to do so will be wrong.
02:41The charge that we're dealing with is misbehaving in public office. It is not something that I would imagine requires interviewing many persons and getting scientific evidence, etc, etc. It appears to be something straightforward and it is important in the public's interest, in the interest of the TTPS, and in the interest of the Police Service Commission for this investigation to take place very quickly
03:09and for it to come to an end one way or the other. Whether it involves delaying of a charge against the Commissioner of Police or her being freed totally.
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