By Dr. Neals J. Chitan
A recent police brutality video including what seem to be three Royal Grenada Police Force officers beating the hell out of a man with a metal wand is circulating on social media, and if it is indeed RGPF officers, it really doesn’t look good!!
The scene is that of an adult male wearing boxers only, with legs tied, hands restrained being dragged on the ground by two officers, while the third officer is beating the daylights out of him with what looks like a metal pipe of something of that sort. Barbaric, I say!! Is that all the dignity and respect we give and show to our citizens? As trained law enforcers, if that’s all you have to offer in terms of restraining a citizen then you need to re-think your training! No apologies!! So, let’s break it down!!
As a social skill professional whose craft involves assessing, analysing and problem solving, knowing the two sides of a story is crucial to a conclusion. However, when blatant disrespectful and inhumane responses are meted out, like in this video, a one-sided conclusion can be easily drawn by the public which can neutralize what may be deemed a necessary response by police. That’s why police officers need to STOP and THINK before impulsively and emotionally responding to a situation.
As the video rolls, we see an adult male, who knows? A criminal probably, being mal handled by plain clothes law enforcers. We do not know the crime that summoned such an inhumane response, and by the way, the subject may have done something or behaved in manner that deserved harsh enforcement. However, let’s take a more analytic look at the behavioral response from the law men.
The first thing I noticed was that the man being arrested was only wearing what seems like boxers. And there go the questions (1) Was he so uncooperative and threatening that he had to be hauled out in public without being dignifiedly dressed? (2) Was he so dangerous to the public and so wanted by the law men that they couldn’t waste time having him clothed in public? Was that really the case? Or was that the emotional impulsive reaction by the police to perceived guilt?
Then, let’s look at the way they dragged him on the ground to the police vehicle. The subject gave no evidence of his physical incapacitation and inability to walk. However, he was dragged on the ground on his bare unclothed back. Do you mean that three trained officers can’t lift an uncooperating individual whose feet and hands are restrained for what seems like much less than a hundred meters? Or was it, “a beast like you deserve to be dragged on the ground and taken to the van by any means necessary?” Just asking!
And what about the constant beating with a metal wand? Here we have a perfectly restrained man whose hands and feet are securely bound and who cannot run away, fight back nor defend himself being mercilessly beaten by an arresting officer while being dragged on his bare back as an animal. WOW! As a matter of fact, as I observed the frequency of the blows and the demeanor of the beating officer, I see what may be, rage, vigilante justice and inhumanity. What did you see?
As citizens, or at least, as humans, I believe we deserve better interactions, treatment and respect from authority figures and law enforcement. Despite our disrespect, anti-social behavior and infractions, there is some form of basic human dignity to which we are entitled, and in this case, wasn’t given. I see it as a serious lack of humanity, critical thinking and professionalism on the part of the three officers, which by reflection, showcases the RGPF as such. I call on the high command of the RGPF to publicly address this situation while also doing an in-depth analysis of their methods of arrest, restraint and detention.
Remember police officers, your job is not meant to serve justice! You are not the judge! Your job is to arrest and detain individuals who you have reasons to believe are a danger to the public and themselves. The world is looking on my friends and you too as police officers need to “Always STOP and THINK before you PROCEED,” because not doing so may cost your career, your reputation and who knows? Maybe your life too!!
About the Author: Dr. Neals Chitan is an International Social Skill Consultant and Crime Reduction Specialist who holds a Ph.D. in Social and Behavioural Sciences and currently works in Grenada. He is the President/Founder of Motiv-8 For Change International a Toronto-based Social Skill Agency and can be reached from North America at 647-692-6330 and locally 473-416-8377 or at nealschitan@motiv-8.org
