Last night we reported on Inspectors Oscar Puga and Albert Kelly who were dismissed from the Police Department for what were some very serious charges of corruption. While we said that the matters seemed to have been swept under the rug of corruption for months and kept there as long as possible, the man in charge of the Department, Commissioner Gerald Westby today defended the decision of the senior command. He says the inspectors' alleged misdeeds were scrutinized the minute he became aware of the wrongdoings.
Gerald Westby, Commissioner of Police
"The infractions had occurred well before I assumed command, some of them I understand, in one particular case, was from 2004. When the infractions
were brought to my attention in August, I promptly had both officers removed and I was the one who directed that Internal Affairs conduct an investigation. One the infractions were brought to my attention in August, I immediately directed and had this officers removed from the Criminal Investigations Branch to Patrol Branch. And IAD was tasked to do an expeditious investigation which was done, and once that investigation was done, the file was submitted to the Services Commission which has the legal authority to discipline from inspectors and upwards. That was done and then they gave them due process, they must give them time to respond and so they were given a time and then they were summoned before. But as you can see, once the matter was brought to my attention in August, I promptly dealt with it.
I am very committed that I will not tolerate dishonesty within the department and also at the same I want to make it abundantly clear that I will support my policemen in doing their work."
Alfonso Noble,
Some might argue you might not have been the Commissioner in 2004, however you were in the higher ranks of the department.
Gerald Westby,
"What I am saying is that the things were brought to my attention, and Mr. Zetina has dealt with disciplinary action, but what I am saying is that in this particular case they were only brought to my attention in August, and once they were brought I promptly removed the officers and I dealt with it."
Alfonso Noble,
Mr. Chester Williams has also been accused of this same kind of thing with regards money from Mr. David Young, monies from the Department's Fund was taken to replace that money but we heard nothing of what happened.
Gerald Westby,
"That case was completely different. Money went missing from the office and there was no evidence, and I still do not believe that Mr. Chester had any criminal responsibility in relation to that money. We carried out an investigation. He certainly did not steal any money, I am confident to this date he did not steal the money; somebody stole the money. But in this case the evidence pointed clearly to these particular officers."
