UNIBAM Exec. Dir. Says PC Gillett’s Rights were Infringed

Ralph Gillett

The incident over the weekend involving homophobic insults hurled at PC Ralph Gillett, along with him being rendered unconscious via a chokehold, has sparked a polarizing debate. Persons like the Special Envoy for Women and Children Kim Simplis Barrow are questioning whether the chokehold was necessary or a clear show of excessive force by the responding officers. The video shows PC Gillett in a headlock for twenty seconds before being released. As you heard Deputy Commissioner of Police Edward Broaster say, the department has not sanctioned that particular ‘defense technique’ which, if applied incorrectly, can result in a fatality as was the situation in the Eric Garner case in New York.  Garner was killed after being placed in a chokehold by a police officer.  This led to nationwide protests and traffic-clogging marches against police brutality and racism.  UNIBAM’s Executive Director Caleb Orozco says that Gillett’s rights were not only ignored, but infringed.

Hipolito Novelo

“Were the rights of Mister Gillett infringed?”

Caleb Orozco

Caleb Orozco, Executive Director, UNIBAM

“On so many levels. Dignity was ignored, indignity was amplified, the process of natural justice was just thrown under the bus. Beyond that, he was humiliated deliberately, intentionally. There was no system in place for addressing such a conflict. For the boat owner, specifically, they seem to have no position on dealing with persons who are drinking or taking drinks on the boat. In this case, this was San Pedro water taxi.  I think there is an opportunity for course correction on either keeping people out of that boat who have been drinking or who have signs on liquor on their body. I think there is an opportunity here for the Commissioner of Police to exam thoroughly the level of discriminatory practices within the police department and I think there is an opportunity for growth. Now, how the police department will deal with the way PC Gillett was treated and how WPC Arbunie Clare will be treated in Magistrate Court for her position to stand up to the inaptitude of ASP Crispin Castillo will remain to be seen.  The idea that police can act with impunity because they have wide investigation powers is problematic because they can abuse, harass, damage the reputation of any ordinary citizen and they can justify it under their powers to investigate. This isn’t just about LGBT people.”