ComPol Williams: “Police Officers Should Not Record and Make Mockery of People”

Just recently, three cops coerced a man to have sex with a mentally challenged woman. That despicable act was recorded on cell phone by one of the rogue cops and released; the trio was charged.  The investigation into the death of Ulysease Roca also identifies breaches in policy in the Police Department as it relates to the use of cell phones.  Commissioner of Police Williams says that police officers should not record and make mockery of people. As to the officers who participated in the Roca video recorded inside the Racoon Street Police station, Chester Williams says that the Professional Standards Branch has been tapped to investigate and those responsible will be dealt with. 

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Now there are some internal issues that need to be address. I have been told of a video that was recorded inside precinct two police station when the young man was detained. And again, I cannot understand why will police be videoing an arrested person on their cell phone, making fun of people and then the video ends up in the public domain. I have an issue with that. We have a cell phone policy and even though when that cell phone policy was signed into law for police, some members of the public had issues over it that the Commissioner is trying to control this and control that. But these are the kinds of behaviours that we foresaw that’s why we decided to implement the cell phone policy. Police officer should not be taking their cell phones to record people and make a mockery of people. Whatever lifestyle Mister Roca lived, that is his business. And that should be no reason for police or anyone to make fun of him or to bully him. Regardless of who he was, his lifestyle, he was a human being like all of us and is entitled to the same fundamental rights and freedoms that all of us are entitled to and that should be respected. And so where that video is concerned that police took and put on social media, I have directed Professional Standards Branch to inquire into it and the chips will fall where they may.”

ComPol Williams says that the officers responsible will be charged for violation of the cell phone policy of the department and the conduct of taking the video and distributing it is an act of prejudice of good order and discipline.