Police Commissioner in St Lucia Vernon Francois today announced plans to temporarily scrap the performance of special duties by police officers, commonly referred to as moonlighting.
Francois said that effective January 4 all officers engaged in the practice will be required to stop and re-apply to the Commissioner of Police for approval under a new policy framework.
“For the new management of the Royal Police Force the issue of moonlighting has become a serious concern. As a result the force is about to release a new policy on the matter, but until such time all special duties by police officers will have to cease and those seeking to engage in additional duties will have to apply to the Police Chief,” Francois said.
“We need to regularise the system almost immediately as it has become problematic, I don’t know who is doing what, and it needs to be done properly.
“I have said previously that I am not against the idea of police officers doing special duty all I want is for it to be done properly, so we are going to start a new system of duty employment by police officers, we are going to conduct some background investigation prior to police officers being permitted to perform special duty from next year,” Francois added.
The Commissioner said the police force is currently trying to sort out the technical issues relating to the performance of special duties. These include the time period between special work and police duties, the issue of wearing a police uniform for such duties and liability matters.
“Obviously the law will remain that the final authority to grant special duty lies with the Commissioner of Police but with that policy what we have done is to put together a board comprising senior police officers to do background investigation into the officer applying for special duty,” he said.
“We do not want people who have a history of reporting sick and then turning up for special duty, we want it to be a worker that is dependable.”
Commissioner Francois said that the nature of the special duties will also have to be taken into consideration, noting that several officers were currently engaged in the practice and will face disciplinary action including possible dismissal if they continue after the temporary cease order goes into effect on January 4.
Sources say a police constable depending on rank could earn up to EC$3,000 monthly (US$800) including allowances but by doing special duties some officers can earn much more.
The matter of moonlighting of police officers was thrust into the national spotlight earlier this year when police corporal Vincent Peters was shot and killed while providing security escort as a cash deposit was being made at a bank.
The officers’ partner was wounded and the assailant shot and killed by a police unit that happened to be in the area and responded to the sound of gunfire.
