Regional Commander Williams Offer Apologies for Police Actions

Chester Williams

Scott took to the airwaves, and her story caught the attention of Commander of Eastern Division South Chester Williams. Williams today told us that Scott has gotten her apology, and officers have reportedly been told to exercise more care and discretion.

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams, Regional Commander, Eastern Division South

“I had visited the lady personally yesterday evening and she and I had a very good discussion over the matter and the matter has been resolved. I do not want to venture into the details of it.”

Reporter

“In terms of other people to whom that may happen and them knowing what is their rights. Can you say what are the entry procedures; what are police allowed and not allowed?”

Sr. Supt. Chester Williams

“Again, the police do have a right to enter the premises of people to conduct search. There are times when the police are in hot pursuit; they may see somebody running and in the process of running, they go into a house. Again the law allows the police to be able to go in immediately after that person to apprehend. Now in terms of just ordinarily going to a person’s home, then it would require the police to take along a search warrant. Even though under the Firearms Act, the police do not need to carry a search warrant, I will still emphasize to my officers to be on the safe side to take along a search warrant. I had apologised to the lady on behalf of the officers who went to her home and based on the information that we had obtained, the officers were in pursuit of somebody and they believed that the person had ran into the house. Apparently the person that they were chasing did not go into the house, so it was a mistake. And if we have things like that, then we must be man enough to apologise for the mistake that we have done. I spoke to the officers about it and I also expressed to them that in the future let’s be more careful as to how we do things. And I must say that I was very grateful for the reception that the lady gave me; she was willing to sit down and talk about the whole situation and we were able to resolve the matter.”