After Junior Police Constable (PC) Michelle Andrews made a report against inspector Cornelius Charles for sexually inappropriate actions imposed upon her by him, what happened? I cannot tell you what happened but I knew enough to know that it was not the first allegations of sexually inappropriate conduct that was leveled against Mr. Charles in the course of his career.
In matters such as these, it is the responsibility and sworn duties of the Commissioner of police to assign an individual or a team to look into such allegations. I will also say here. The investigation is not to be done with any particular objective in mind, but it should be done, to validate the accuracy of the complainant’s story. It is based on the findings and the recommendation of the investigator, that the commissioner of police will determined the next course of actions. The actions of the Commissioner can range from:
To determine if there is enough evidence to support the complainant’s claims and therefore he can either close the case no charge to be answer.
There are enough evidence to support the complainant case. An agreement can be made with both parties to allow the matter to be dealt with by the commissioner using his limited power to punish the inspector. (The commissioner do not have the authority to exceed certain punishment for officers from inspector and higher, such must be dealt with by the Police Service commission)
The commissioner can forward the file to the Police Service Commission for them to deal with
The commissioner can also forward the file to the Director of Public prosecution for further criminal direction.
It was the responsibility of the then Commissioner of Police Mr. William Harry, to ensure that Michelle Andrews’s complaint was appropriately and impartially investigated. Although I kept my ear to the ground, I never got wind, as to who were responsible for investigating PC Andrews’s case. It would have been highly unprofessional and inappropriate if COP Harry appointed himself the investigator in this matter for the simple reason of the close personal relationship the then commissioner of police Mr. William Harry had with the accused in the complaint inspector of police (Inspector) Cornelius Charles.
Now I am forced to asked, the following questions:
Was an investigator (s) appointed to look into the matter?
Who was the investigator (s)?
Was the accuse person interviewed?
What was the finding of the interview?
What was the overall findings of the investigation into PC Andrews’s allegations?
I will go out on a limb and say that a large percentage of police officers would have find themselves in a situation where they could have been brought up on sexual harassment charges. Fortunately for them, their victims may have been too afraid to file a report against their senior or colleague of the same rank.
Was Michelle Andrews a victim of the old boys club?
The assignment to investigate a fellow colleague is not an easy one, the return of finding favorable to the complainant could have serious internal social impact on the investigator. He can also become a victim of what is called professional hazard. The tradition of the force is; senior ranking officers are entitled to certain sexual conquest privileges.
One of the manner in which the police and similar organizations deal with such matters, is to put the matter on the backburner and help the matter just go away. Very often the level of unjust treatment and oppressive treatment that is handed out to the complainant; they will come to the unaided conclusion, it is best to let the matter just be swept under the rug.
Was Michelle Andrews one such victims? Was she denied her opportunity to have her matter properly looked into and be giving justice?
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