Police Officers are the Most Exposed Frontline Personnel

Corporal Jimenez’s death is particularly tragic for Commissioner of Police Chester Williams because it is his belief that immediate medical attention should have been given to the officer, as he too is at the forefront in the fight against the deadly disease.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“For me it is a really sad situation to see that us frontline officers and I will maintain still that as police officers, we are more exposed than health workers to the COVID virus and to see that here we are enforcing these regulations, exposing ourselves and whenever we find ourselves where we need the hospital authority, it’s a no-show for us.  It cannot be countenanced.  I am sure that the Minister of Health is going to look into it.  He’s doing his best because I personally have spoken to him.  He is doing what he can but people below the minister, and in particular, the K.H.M.H. administration, really and truly need to do better because we cannot continue in this way.  Our security personnel, as well as our medical personnel and even the broader public deserve to have a situation where whenever we go to the hospital we get the level of treatment that we rightfully deserve.  And so I as the commissioner of police am saddened by it because I am the one who is always behind my officers telling them to enforce the regulations and the importance of enforcing regulations and so I feel bad.  But at the end of the day it is a part of our responsibility and so our duties as police officers continue.”