ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The Dominica government says it has sought the assistance of the Trinidad-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) in the investigation of the theft of several guns and ammunition from a police station, west of here.
National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore said at least nine firearms were stolen from the St. Joseph Police Station.
“You may have heard of the recent incident at the St. Joseph Police Station, and I want to say whereas I was in total support of the police when I got a report from the Commissioner of Police, I don’t want to tell you what I responded,” Blackmoore told reporters.
“There is no reasonable excuse or explanation for what transpired at the St. Joseph Police Station, and it is a situation whereby we should remove our political cap and look at those issues as severe national issues.”
Blackmoore said that the government is taking the matter “very seriously” and that the Police Commissioner had appointed the head of the Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the matter.
“But I believe that the matter is so urgent and severe that we have requested independent investigators through the instrumentality of CARICOM IMPACS to be in Dominica very shortly to investigate that matter independently and let the chips fall where they are supposed to fall.
“The police are charged with protect and serve, and the public must be assured that that is being done…and I am distraught at this occurrence,” Blackmore added.
Police Commissioner Daniel Carbon said the situation is one of grave concern.
“I can confirm that a total of nine firearms were stolen from the St. Joseph Police Station, six of which are assault rifles. We have three M-16 rifles, three 7.5 rifles, one shotgun and two pistols, and a quantity of ammunition in a different caliber,” Carbon said.
He told reporters, “At all times, there must be police officers present at a police station. What has happened in St. Joseph is outrageous; that’s all I will say about that.
“I can tell you that the St. Joseph Police Station as it exists now is in three separate locations, and that is so because accommodation had to be provided for officers even if the police station is under construction.
“I sincerely believe, and I know there are enough police officers in the three different locations to ensure that the main …quarters where the armory was that there should be a police officer on duty at the police station 24/7…as well as at the other two building”.
The Police Commissioner insisted that “there must be a police officer present at a police station.”
and then  Implementation Agency){kind=link}