BERMUDA POLICE
May 15th 2009, 7:09 pm
#31
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
It is good to read the perspective of some Englishmen living and working in Bermuda. I appreciate the honesty. It is interesting, however, how none of you admit to the way many Brits act when they come to live in Bermuda or when they travel abroad generally. That is, the only hang around other Brits, they only drink at the pubs with other Brits, they only play rugby together, they only attend BBQ's at eachother's houses and they generally only look out for one another. The same cliquishness has existed on the Bda Police force for years! It goes both ways.
I also find it interesting, although not surprising, how many of you, including Swift on his website, only see your own English selves as being professional. Typical British mentality unfortunately. Swift never mentiones the blatant racism and lack of opportunities that affected black Bermudian officers on the force which resulted in some of the incompetent people in positions today. Very easy to look at everything in a snap shot in history isn't it? Reading Swifts website he conveniently leaves out the incompetent Brits that have been thrust into positions of leadership.
Swift, if your website is going to publish "facts" publish ALL the facts.
I also find it interesting, although not surprising, how many of you, including Swift on his website, only see your own English selves as being professional. Typical British mentality unfortunately. Swift never mentiones the blatant racism and lack of opportunities that affected black Bermudian officers on the force which resulted in some of the incompetent people in positions today. Very easy to look at everything in a snap shot in history isn't it? Reading Swifts website he conveniently leaves out the incompetent Brits that have been thrust into positions of leadership.
Swift, if your website is going to publish "facts" publish ALL the facts.
Dunno if you noticed but this is an Expat site sooo you are gonna get an expat outlook, and that, amigo, is a British one as far as Bermuda is concerned. (I don't reckon too many of our West Indian friends are going to be on here to be honest, but you never know)
Furthermore, lay off the anti-British, or was it anti- English sentiment (or don't you know the difference), let alone the race card. How do you know if some of the guys/girls on here are black,white,yellow or blue? Surely you are not assuming that to be British or an expat or to be English, or a police officer on his way to Bermuda is to be ....white are you? You are aren't you?
When I was over there (86-90) the Brit expats tended to stay in their social enviroment, all young men with, in the main, similar interests and similar backgrounds, not to mention similar professional experience. Don't forget, you get flown over there with these guys, eat, sleep and breathe their company for two months then work with them. You'll reside in barracks with them and obviously socialise with them. It was the same for the West Indian lads. Had the force any interest in mixing things up, they would have run mixed induction courses, but they never did. So, big deal, the rugby, beer swilling Brits mixed together, and the dominoe flinging, rum swilling West Indians did likewise. We mixed professionally and at cricket time when, I seem to recall, the Brits got murdered!!
As for the job (NEAL..) was spot on to be honest in his first post. If you are thinking of going over there, do your homework extensively and, if you are an ambitious type, do not be under the misapprehension that you will enjoy a long, varied, fruitful and challenging police career there...it ain't gonna happen. If you are going over to just have some fun then maybe open some new doors for yourself into something else, rip it up. I don't believe, of the 15 or so guys that went over there with me, any are still in the job, and the same goes for the intake before mine to be honest. So that may tell you something.
Finally CAHOW, lets address the attack on Phil Swift. I worked with Phil in BDA and was his partner for about twelve months. He does have some 'issues' but don't we all (I may have more!). Whatever you may think about him let me tell you that he was a driven, conscientious and energetic bobby who didn't want to settle for pestering college kids and handing out parking tickets for five years and decided to get down to some hard ploice work. He, and I, worked hard until we quickly discovered that our efforts were least appreciated by our 'superiors'. My disillusionment came quicker than his and I bailed out in 90 (before boredom and disenchantment got me kicked out). Phil carried on for a few more years and was eventually crapped on from a great height and duly left in 'similar' circumstances. Swifty's bitterness and anger are in direct proportion to the efforts that he put into his work there and how he was, basically stitched up from on high. We both, naievely, thought it was about putting bad guys away and cleaning crime off the streets of the island, but that was when we were 'green and in our salad days', we know better now don't we. So, CAHOW, wind your kneck-in, judging by your daft, semi-literate and archaically ill-informed racist post, one may assume that you hold rank....in the Bermuda Police! If you do my friend, I'll bet you are not half as capable as Philip Bernard Swift or many others who got tired and disillusioned up on the inappropriatly monikored 'Prospect' Hill.
May 15th 2009, 8:05 pm
#32
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
"So, CAHOW, wind your kneck-in, judging by your daft, semi-literate and archaically ill-informed racist post, one may assume that you hold rank....in the Bermuda Police! If you do my friend, I'll bet you are not half as capable as Philip Bernard Swift or many others who got tired and disillusioned up on the inappropriatly monikored 'Prospect' Hill."
Fedair, thanks for proving my point right about the typical mentality of some of the Brits who come to Bermuda. Your rant above clearly puts you into that category. No, thankfully I am not in the police force because then I might be subjected to working alongside the likes of dim wits like you. You call me "semi-literate" but if you actually read my post you will see I did not actually question the ability or performance of Swift. I don't even know the man. Nor did I disagree with the problems that he cited in the Bermuda Police Service. I actually agree with a lot of what he says. I merely took a swipe at the one-sided diatribe on his site. He only tells half the story! "The Brits have it altogether. The locals are all idiots." That's pretty much how you both have it summed up and it is that mentality which drives a wedge between you and locals. I have spent many years in the UK. Given you and your colleagues are so "disillusioned" with Bermuda, and given your obviously immense capabilities hopefully you are lending a hand to your own British police force that lets rapists and terrorists roam free.
Fedair, thanks for proving my point right about the typical mentality of some of the Brits who come to Bermuda. Your rant above clearly puts you into that category. No, thankfully I am not in the police force because then I might be subjected to working alongside the likes of dim wits like you. You call me "semi-literate" but if you actually read my post you will see I did not actually question the ability or performance of Swift. I don't even know the man. Nor did I disagree with the problems that he cited in the Bermuda Police Service. I actually agree with a lot of what he says. I merely took a swipe at the one-sided diatribe on his site. He only tells half the story! "The Brits have it altogether. The locals are all idiots." That's pretty much how you both have it summed up and it is that mentality which drives a wedge between you and locals. I have spent many years in the UK. Given you and your colleagues are so "disillusioned" with Bermuda, and given your obviously immense capabilities hopefully you are lending a hand to your own British police force that lets rapists and terrorists roam free.
May 16th 2009, 12:00 am
#33
Just Joined
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
"So, CAHOW, wind your kneck-in, judging by your daft, semi-literate and archaically ill-informed racist post, one may assume that you hold rank....in the Bermuda Police! If you do my friend, I'll bet you are not half as capable as Philip Bernard Swift or many others who got tired and disillusioned up on the inappropriatly monikored 'Prospect' Hill."
Fedair, thanks for proving my point right about the typical mentality of some of the Brits who come to Bermuda. Your rant above clearly puts you into that category. No, thankfully I am not in the police force because then I might be subjected to working alongside the likes of dim wits like you. You call me "semi-literate" but if you actually read my post you will see I did not actually question the ability or performance of Swift. I don't even know the man. Nor did I disagree with the problems that he cited in the Bermuda Police Service. I actually agree with a lot of what he says. I merely took a swipe at the one-sided diatribe on his site. He only tells half the story! "The Brits have it altogether. The locals are all idiots." That's pretty much how you both have it summed up and it is that mentality which drives a wedge between you and locals. I have spent many years in the UK. Given you and your colleagues are so "disillusioned" with Bermuda, and given your obviously immense capabilities hopefully you are lending a hand to your own British police force that lets rapists and terrorists roam free.
Fedair, thanks for proving my point right about the typical mentality of some of the Brits who come to Bermuda. Your rant above clearly puts you into that category. No, thankfully I am not in the police force because then I might be subjected to working alongside the likes of dim wits like you. You call me "semi-literate" but if you actually read my post you will see I did not actually question the ability or performance of Swift. I don't even know the man. Nor did I disagree with the problems that he cited in the Bermuda Police Service. I actually agree with a lot of what he says. I merely took a swipe at the one-sided diatribe on his site. He only tells half the story! "The Brits have it altogether. The locals are all idiots." That's pretty much how you both have it summed up and it is that mentality which drives a wedge between you and locals. I have spent many years in the UK. Given you and your colleagues are so "disillusioned" with Bermuda, and given your obviously immense capabilities hopefully you are lending a hand to your own British police force that lets rapists and terrorists roam free.
May 16th 2009, 12:46 am
#34
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
No, I'm not Dennis. But that's hilarious that i got your blood bubbling. Hit a nerve? Go ahead. Say what you want to say about Dennis. Syllable by syllable. Let me go and get my popcorn first.
May 18th 2009, 4:01 pm
#35
Just Joined
Joined: May 2009
Location: a dark corner of the Canadian experiment
Posts: 28
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
Hi all,
I'm a Canadian police constable who has been offered a 5 year contract with BPS. The offer expires March 2010. I'm hoping to get inducted by this September at the latest.
I have been following this thread and see that several members on here do possess first hand knowledge of the service. I do have some questions that Recruiting probably can't answer, and as such I would like to bring them up here to the forum members. I would like to keep my questions discreet, and direct them only to people who actually have experience in Bermuda.
In particular, `Skids', if you are open to answering some questions I would be grateful for your insight. Please do me a huge favour and PM me if you are willing to entertain them.
In the mean time, to all my brothers and sisters in policing who are reading these, wherever you are- be SAFE.
Mike
I'm a Canadian police constable who has been offered a 5 year contract with BPS. The offer expires March 2010. I'm hoping to get inducted by this September at the latest.
I have been following this thread and see that several members on here do possess first hand knowledge of the service. I do have some questions that Recruiting probably can't answer, and as such I would like to bring them up here to the forum members. I would like to keep my questions discreet, and direct them only to people who actually have experience in Bermuda.
In particular, `Skids', if you are open to answering some questions I would be grateful for your insight. Please do me a huge favour and PM me if you are willing to entertain them.
In the mean time, to all my brothers and sisters in policing who are reading these, wherever you are- be SAFE.
Mike
May 18th 2009, 6:54 pm
#36
Just Joined
Joined: May 2009
Location: a dark corner of the Canadian experiment
Posts: 28
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
Hi `ESTM', I received your PM but I can't use the system for PM's yet- I'm too new or don't have enough posts or something. No worries. Email me at
badgeinthewilderness (at) gmail (dot) com
and we can converse there. Look forward to hearing from you.
Mike
badgeinthewilderness (at) gmail (dot) com
and we can converse there. Look forward to hearing from you.
Mike
May 18th 2009, 7:09 pm
#37
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 90
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
Hi Mike,
Ive sent you an email matey, i think yove got to post more than 3 posts to become eligable to send pm's.
Eddie
Ive sent you an email matey, i think yove got to post more than 3 posts to become eligable to send pm's.
Eddie
May 18th 2009, 7:34 pm
#38
Just Joined
Joined: May 2009
Location: a dark corner of the Canadian experiment
Posts: 28
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
well then if that's the case, this is post #3!
May 26th 2009, 7:29 pm
#39
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Cayman Islands
Posts: 77
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
Hi all,
Does anyone know if Bermuda are in fact recruiting this September? I was told similar by Fiona Miller but don't see anything on website.
Any help is much appreciated
Does anyone know if Bermuda are in fact recruiting this September? I was told similar by Fiona Miller but don't see anything on website.
Any help is much appreciated
May 27th 2009, 5:33 pm
#40
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 90
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
Hi Caymanite
Ive sent you a Private message about whats going on, ive been in contact with Fiona Miller too and got some info for you
Eddie
Ive sent you a Private message about whats going on, ive been in contact with Fiona Miller too and got some info for you
Eddie
Jun 1st 2009, 10:34 am
#41
Just Joined
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 9
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
hey guys
I have not been on this site for ages has anyone heard any more news about intakes for international officers I passed the BPS recruitment process medical snd interview in septmber/october last year and i have heard nothing sincr this time last year they told me that i would start in Jan 09 now they say they are recruiting locally only anyone heard any diff I just want to get out their lol
I have not been on this site for ages has anyone heard any more news about intakes for international officers I passed the BPS recruitment process medical snd interview in septmber/october last year and i have heard nothing sincr this time last year they told me that i would start in Jan 09 now they say they are recruiting locally only anyone heard any diff I just want to get out their lol
Jun 1st 2009, 4:16 pm
#42
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 90
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
Alright Jon
mate ive been in contact, and the word on the street is that they are taking people on in september, but i think that this is for new people applying, not people in your shoes who have gone through it all mate.
Have you not rung them up to see whats going on?
Id be interested in any info you can find out as there arent many people on here that know anything about Bermuda.
Eddie
mate ive been in contact, and the word on the street is that they are taking people on in september, but i think that this is for new people applying, not people in your shoes who have gone through it all mate.
Have you not rung them up to see whats going on?
Id be interested in any info you can find out as there arent many people on here that know anything about Bermuda.
Eddie
Jun 4th 2009, 3:22 pm
#43
Just Joined
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 7
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
Gives us the scoop Swifty. What's going on?
Published: June 4. 2009 09:06AM
Governor resists calls for a Commission of Inquiry into alleged police corruption
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Matthew Taylor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alarmed: Governor Sir Richard Gozney speaking at a press conference yesterday to discuss policing issues, at which he said there would be no Commission of Inquiry into alleged Police corruption.
Photo: Mark Tatem
Governor Sir Richard Gozney has resisted the call by Government politicians for a Commission of Inquiry into claims of corruption in the Police force.
Last week former Cabinet Minister Wayne Perinchief said it was needed after alleging hard-core drug pushers have been caught red-handed but let off the hook.
It's understood Mr. Perinchief, a former Assistant Police Commissioner, believes around a half-a-dozen low-ranking officers could be under suspicion.
His corruption claims, made on the floor of the House last week, were backed up in this newspaper by fellow Progressive Labour Party MP Ashfield DeVent.
Yesterday, at a press conference at Government House, Sir Richard indicated he has met with Mr. Perinchief.
He added: "His concerns are with the relevant authorities, he was not the only one to make that comment, there were a couple of other people just last week, one senior politician, one backbench MP in the press today.
"There needs to be hard evidence."
Asked about the Commission of Inquiry, which would involve overseas authorities probing Police, prisons and customs, Sir Richard said: "I don't think it is necessary".
He urged anyone with specific details of corruption to forward their concerns to Police Commissioner George Jackson.
"He is a very honest, upright, straightforward man. I have no doubt if people have evidence of Police corruption he will act on it."
But Sir Richard said he was taking the allegations very seriously.
He said: "I would not have made the offer I did to ask Mr. Perinchief to talk to me if I hadn't been alarmed."
He said the allegation had also been made by an unnamed "senior Government politician".
Addressing the media after a spate of drive-by shootings which saw Kenwandee Robinson murdered in St. Monica's Road last month, the Governor also said he had suggested a forum to allow Cabinet more input on combating crime.
He added: "I have proposed to the Premier [Ewart Brown] and [Public Safety] Minister [David] Burch a new forum in which Ministers would have a more direct influence on Police strategy, objectives and priorities."
He said he did not yet know Government's response to the proposal but he said full details would be released if Cabinet Office gives its blessing.
But amid ping-pong accusations over who is responsible for the Police force Sir Richard said: "I won't politick on this issue. Ultimately, for oversight of the overall performance of the Bermuda Police Service, the buck stops with me."
He said there had been a doubling of the Serious Crime Unit, a third more officers in the Police Support Unit and twice as many uniformed officers in the central area, focusing on Court Street, Curving Avenue and 42nd Street.
But Sir Richard could give no commitment on how long the heightened policing would last.
"It is not something which is going to stop within days or even a week or two."
And he urged the public to give Police information to help them nail the criminals, preferably via sworn statements but, if not, via tip-offs.Recent court cases had shown how murderers such as those who killed Matthew Clarke and Aquil Richardson could be put away when people did their duty and acted as witnesses.While stressing politicians had jurisdiction over law changes, he suggested a review of the Bail Act to stop multiple repeat offenders committing crime while awaiting trial.And he suggested legislation to enable Police to force gang members to remove masks so they can be identified.Sir Richard also suggested those on the drug court rehabilitation programme, which gives sentence breaks to those trying to get clean, should be sent back to Westgate if they fail to attend.Probed on whether is was time for specific anti-gang legislation, Sir Richard said such laws were more useful in places such as the States where gangs were more structured with headquarters and other premises to go after.Quizzed on whether cameras needed to be used more in crime hotspots, he said that was an operational matter for Police chiefs.
Published: June 4. 2009 09:06AM
Governor resists calls for a Commission of Inquiry into alleged police corruption
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Matthew Taylor
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alarmed: Governor Sir Richard Gozney speaking at a press conference yesterday to discuss policing issues, at which he said there would be no Commission of Inquiry into alleged Police corruption.
Photo: Mark Tatem
Governor Sir Richard Gozney has resisted the call by Government politicians for a Commission of Inquiry into claims of corruption in the Police force.
Last week former Cabinet Minister Wayne Perinchief said it was needed after alleging hard-core drug pushers have been caught red-handed but let off the hook.
It's understood Mr. Perinchief, a former Assistant Police Commissioner, believes around a half-a-dozen low-ranking officers could be under suspicion.
His corruption claims, made on the floor of the House last week, were backed up in this newspaper by fellow Progressive Labour Party MP Ashfield DeVent.
Yesterday, at a press conference at Government House, Sir Richard indicated he has met with Mr. Perinchief.
He added: "His concerns are with the relevant authorities, he was not the only one to make that comment, there were a couple of other people just last week, one senior politician, one backbench MP in the press today.
"There needs to be hard evidence."
Asked about the Commission of Inquiry, which would involve overseas authorities probing Police, prisons and customs, Sir Richard said: "I don't think it is necessary".
He urged anyone with specific details of corruption to forward their concerns to Police Commissioner George Jackson.
"He is a very honest, upright, straightforward man. I have no doubt if people have evidence of Police corruption he will act on it."
But Sir Richard said he was taking the allegations very seriously.
He said: "I would not have made the offer I did to ask Mr. Perinchief to talk to me if I hadn't been alarmed."
He said the allegation had also been made by an unnamed "senior Government politician".
Addressing the media after a spate of drive-by shootings which saw Kenwandee Robinson murdered in St. Monica's Road last month, the Governor also said he had suggested a forum to allow Cabinet more input on combating crime.
He added: "I have proposed to the Premier [Ewart Brown] and [Public Safety] Minister [David] Burch a new forum in which Ministers would have a more direct influence on Police strategy, objectives and priorities."
He said he did not yet know Government's response to the proposal but he said full details would be released if Cabinet Office gives its blessing.
But amid ping-pong accusations over who is responsible for the Police force Sir Richard said: "I won't politick on this issue. Ultimately, for oversight of the overall performance of the Bermuda Police Service, the buck stops with me."
He said there had been a doubling of the Serious Crime Unit, a third more officers in the Police Support Unit and twice as many uniformed officers in the central area, focusing on Court Street, Curving Avenue and 42nd Street.
But Sir Richard could give no commitment on how long the heightened policing would last.
"It is not something which is going to stop within days or even a week or two."
And he urged the public to give Police information to help them nail the criminals, preferably via sworn statements but, if not, via tip-offs.Recent court cases had shown how murderers such as those who killed Matthew Clarke and Aquil Richardson could be put away when people did their duty and acted as witnesses.While stressing politicians had jurisdiction over law changes, he suggested a review of the Bail Act to stop multiple repeat offenders committing crime while awaiting trial.And he suggested legislation to enable Police to force gang members to remove masks so they can be identified.Sir Richard also suggested those on the drug court rehabilitation programme, which gives sentence breaks to those trying to get clean, should be sent back to Westgate if they fail to attend.Probed on whether is was time for specific anti-gang legislation, Sir Richard said such laws were more useful in places such as the States where gangs were more structured with headquarters and other premises to go after.Quizzed on whether cameras needed to be used more in crime hotspots, he said that was an operational matter for Police chiefs.
Jun 4th 2009, 4:37 pm
#44
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Cayman Islands
Posts: 77
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
Wow, that is some corruption 
not surprising though, same thing goes on in most countries.
As for Bermuda police recruiting, I got an email yesterday from Fiona Miller informing that they are ONLY recruiting locally from within Bermuda at the moment and do not expect to recruit elsewhere until September 2010.
Another contact I have in Bermuda tells me that although they are only recruiting locally this is expected to change within a few weeks or months as they are hardly getting any local people applying, & those that do generally have been failing the drugs testing
I guess since nobody seems to know the score it is a matter of luck......not sure it is a place I feel like heading right now, if the police don't know what they are doing from one day to the next then what hope for the rest of the place????
not surprising though, same thing goes on in most countries.As for Bermuda police recruiting, I got an email yesterday from Fiona Miller informing that they are ONLY recruiting locally from within Bermuda at the moment and do not expect to recruit elsewhere until September 2010.
Another contact I have in Bermuda tells me that although they are only recruiting locally this is expected to change within a few weeks or months as they are hardly getting any local people applying, & those that do generally have been failing the drugs testing
I guess since nobody seems to know the score it is a matter of luck......not sure it is a place I feel like heading right now, if the police don't know what they are doing from one day to the next then what hope for the rest of the place????
Jun 4th 2009, 4:52 pm
#45
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 90
Re: BERMUDA POLICE
Caymanite,
Did Fiona def say that it would be 2010, as from what i heard its this year, I could be wrong though!
Did she indicate anything else in the email?
i also heard that people were failing due to drugs etc.
From everywhere ive read in the Bermuda Gazette, And Bermuda Sun, the Premier is trying to recruit overseas to bring experience to the island after the shootings.
What are you going to do in the meantime if it is 2010?
Eddie
Did Fiona def say that it would be 2010, as from what i heard its this year, I could be wrong though!
Did she indicate anything else in the email?
i also heard that people were failing due to drugs etc.
From everywhere ive read in the Bermuda Gazette, And Bermuda Sun, the Premier is trying to recruit overseas to bring experience to the island after the shootings.
What are you going to do in the meantime if it is 2010?
Eddie