Sergeant 444 Kenny Jones of the Police Traffic Department told the Court last week Wednesday that “what is good for the goose is good for the gander”, and called for a strong message to be sent to any police officer who refuse to adhere to the traffic regulations.
The traffic offences prosecutor’s comments came after Deron May, 23-year-old police officer, of Sandy Bay, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving. He was fined $800 forthwith or eight weeks in prison.
Responding to questions from Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne, May told the Court he was a police officer for about three years, and is attached to the Narcotics Unit.
The facts revealed that on May 27, the young officer was driving a minibus H7042, and another minibus, were racing the Cassan Hill area, during which they overtook several vehicles.
Sergeant Jones declared that the public expects a high standard from police officers, in their driving of vehicles, and those officers must adhere to the rules of the road.
The Traffic Prosecutor stressed that driving minibuses is a serious responsibility, as the lives of the passengers are in your hands.
Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne told May that the public will not look at him as someone who just joined the force, they are going to depend on him, as a police officer, and his behaviour will always be under scrutiny. She told him that one act will put a cloud on whatever he did.
“This may be an infraction on your part. Don’t do it again. You could be the Commissioner of Police, so you don’t want anything that could bring you into disrepute, or make your life unhappy”.
Desron Johnson, the driver with whom May was racing on the day in question, was also charged with dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty and was fined $2,000. He was ordered to pay $1,500 forthwith and the balance by August 30.
Source :Haydn Huggins for The Vincentian