Report: Concerns about jail, but investigative work solid
A corruption investigation by the Royal Cayman Islands Police into one of its own officers was not interfered with by senior commanders, and an independent review found no evidence that inaction surrounding the officer’s welfare led the man to commit suicide.
That’s the conclusion of an independent report by the Bermuda Police Service at the request of RCIPS Commissioner David Baines following the discovery on Jan. 12 of PC Raphael Williams’s death by hanging in East End. Three days earlier, officers with the Anti-Corruption Unit had arrested Mr. Williams in connection with allegations that he had attempted to solicit sex from a female motorist in exchange for getting her out of a traffic ticket.
According to the report, tactics used in the Jan. 9 arrest of Mr. Williams, that include four plainclothes officers attending his home, were found to be “justified, proportionate and lawful.”
Also, care and custody records, including interviews with Mr. Williams at the George Town Police Station did not support any assertion that his right to counsel was delayed or denied while he was at the police station.
However, the Bermudian police noted that overall record-keeping while Mr. Williams was in custody was “inconsistent and poor.”
“This observation is relative to visits, the number of late entries, illegible handwriting and the lack of detail on some entries particularly around medication,” the report noted. “This does not meet the threshold for any kind of high standard or best practice for maintaining accountability for custody of arrested persons.”
The report also noted that while there are CCTV cameras installed in the police station, at that time of Mr. Williams’s detention, the camera that monitored his cell area was not in working order.
Despite the identified shortcomings, and the general inadequacy of the George Town Police Station jail cells, the report concluded that “a duty of care” was exercised against Constable Williams’s confinement. While in custody, records show, Mr. Williams was visited at least once by a police welfare officer and by police association leaders as well.
“This [care] included a risk-assessment questionnaire that would have triggered a cause for concern that there was risk of self-harm whilst detained and mitigation required preventing the risk of self-harm,” the report concluded. “There is no record made, and none of the custody personnel interviewed suggested, that there was any concern or indicators as to the vulnerability of Constable Williams to self-harm or that he had formed an intent to self-harm.
“It is within reason that, if Constable Williams intended to self-harm whilst in custody, this could have been easily attempted or achieved given the inadequate custody facilities at the George Town Police Station.”
As part of their review of Mr. Williams’s death, Bermudian officers said they spent “considerable time” meeting with Mr. Williams’s wife, who was “distraught and suffering grief throughout her interview.” She was being aggravated, interviewers concluded, by misinformation being supplied to her about her husband’s death.
“Mrs. Williams appears to have connections within the RCIPS who are further confusing her on the circumstances or her husband’s custody. Her denied access to the scene where Constable Williams met his demise and further denied full body viewing of him after death caused her further alarm and suspicion,” the review stated. However, denying access to the scene and to a full body viewing were “quite justified” Bermudian officers opined.
“The independent review concludes that all actions taken in respect of the investigation conducted into the allegations against Constable Williams were required and reasonable,” the report states.
Inquest
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service issued a statement late Wednesday following the Coroner’s Jury verdict that Mr. Williams’s death was by suicide. The statement also responded to comments by Queen’s Coroner Eileen Nervik after the verdict.
The coroner said she was not being critical in any way, but suggested the police service might wish to consider grief counseling and other counseling services specifically for officers. The statement revealed that “The RCIPS utilizes the services of its police chaplain and Employee Assistance Programme.”
The coroner also suggested that members of the RCIPS could likely benefit from some sensitivity training or “people skills” training on an ongoing basis. The statement did not specifically respond to this idea.
The statement expressed condolences to Mrs. Williams and family regarding “the tragic and untimely death” of Mr. Williams.
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