Is threatening the police back in style?

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is less than amused by a video now in local circulation. In the 28-second recording the cameraman is positioned a few feet behind two uniformed but unidentified officers. A voice, presumably the recorder’s, says: “You see where they there drinking their rum? You see them?” The policemen appear to be standing under a flimsy shed, close to a woman at a barbecue grill at a roadside. The voice goes on: “I have it there for them too.” He moves the camera to show what appears to be a holstered firearm. He pulls it out, then records what sounds like bullets being loaded into the gun’s chamber. There is also the sound of music.

The Minister of National Security, Hermangild Francis, had this to say in reference to the video: “I highly condemn such actions. I see this as an attack on the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force and, by extension, Saint Lucia. The RSLPF will not permit such flagrant disregard of the law. While we respect the rights of all citizens, we will do everything necessary to bring crime perpetrators to justice.”

On the other hand, when this reporter sought further comment from regular officers, they said they would not treat the matter as something personal. By their yardstick, a crime is a crime is a crime, regardless of the victims. It turns out there are no laws on our statutes particularly related to threats against a police officer. Former Commissioner Ausbert Regis had sought to remedy that situation in 2010, following the deaths of Owen Jacob Jules and police officer Vincent Peter. The latter had intervened in a robbery in progress.

Jules had famously shouted into a TV reporter’s microphone some time before: “Not only the police officers that have guns. We have guns too. If is war, is war!” Regis expressed strong opposition to the statements and, although Jules was later arrested, he was never charged.

However, once the “perpetrator” in the most recent video is identified there’s a chance he will face charges. According to Section 114 of the Criminal Code: “A person who threatens another with death or grievous harm with intent to put that other person in fear of death or grievous harm is liable on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for five years or on summary conviction to two years imprisonment.” Such persons may also be charged with illegal possession of a firearm.