Tonight there is one more gun on the streets and this one was stolen from a policeman. And it's not just that it was taken, it's the way it was taken that has the Police Department embarrassed and angry. Here's the story.
Jules Vasquez Reporting,
At 2:30 this morning, 22-year-old police constable Maximiliano Lanza was on duty here at the House of Culture. He was inside this guard hut when two men came up on him. Both wore rags over the faces and one of them had a revolver. At gunpoint, they ordered him to lie on the floor, tied him up, and put a strip of tape over his eyes. They then stole his.38 service revolver and four police radios that were in the hut.
Police Press Officer ASP Bart Jones said they wanted to steal his weapon.
ASP Bart Jones, Police Department
"We believe that the sole purpose was to get the firearm."
And sure enough the radios were found not three hundred feet away in this pre-school compound. But by our reckoning, they got more than just a weapon, their actions flouted the authority of the Police Department.
Jules Vasquez,
What do you make of the attack, its quite unusual that a police officer armed is so ruthlessly taken advantage?
ASP Bart Jones,
"Certainly we are looking at that and looking at it very seriously and it will be properly investigated and we want to assure the public as well that even with this brazen incident, the police officers will not be deterred in the fight against crime."
"Certainly it calls for some feeling of outrage however it is an outrage that police officers throughout the length and breadth of this country feel whenever anyone is robbed or taken advantage of."
Jules Vasquez,
We recall the incident at mile 3 a few weeks ago. Is it a mistake or is it questionable practice to leave a police officer unaccompanied at night even if he is armed?
ASP Bart Jones,
"Well Jules like I said before the security mechanism will be looked at and we will look at what could be done and what went wrong in regards to this case and we can do to correct it."
Jules Vasquez,
So but your officers are under attack. It sounds like you're saying its something you have to review but it seems like criminals are just taking you all for cunnu munnu, you all have a gun and it is just like a security guard, they'll just strong that.
ASP Bart Jones,
"But Jules the thing is that looking at two incidents, its unfair to say that we are under attack. Its two incidents, yes and serious in nature however I don't think it is something that is a cause for alarm and that the police should go out there and be afraid of executing their duties because we are under attack."
Jules Vasquez,
Do you feel that this lack of respect which was shown, this absolute lack of regard for law enforcement officers which was shown in this crime may be imitated in other future attacks on the police?
ASP Bart Jones,
"Well Jules I will say to that certainly we hope not. We hope not, we hope not."
As we noted, police have recovered the four radios, but there is no lead on where the gun might be. Jones denied a credible report to 7NEWS which says that the two men told the police officer to tell his superiors that, "George Street di come fi deh."
