Last night you heard 18 year old Mark Lord’s shocking allegation of police misconduct: first, he claimed that they endangered him by picking him up on the northside and then dropping him on the southside on George Street turf; and then, after he was shot five times near Hyde’s Lane he ran to the Queen Street Police station for assistance and, in his words, everyone just watched him. The allegations of reckless endangerment and neglect are alarming, and the police senior command is responding. Assistant Commissioner of Police and head of Eastern Division where it happened is David Henderson and he told us the internal affairs department is investigating.
Asst. Commissioner David Henderson, Commander – Eastern Division
”After hearing the allegations I know that definitely we must investigate that matter, we must really find out the real truth as to it because then hearing the allegation does not sound good and I would want to assure the victim and his parents and the general public that the police would do everything possible to find out the true side of that story and the person or persons involved, if it is so, will be definitely dealt with.”
Keith Swift,
“Because it is kind of bizarre to hear that the police would pick you up in one area and drop you in another and then secondly that you would be in the police station bleeding and the police wouldn’t help you. So on the face of it, do you believe the allegations?”
Asst. Commissioner David Henderson,
“Well I won’t say I would believe it and I won’t say I will doubt it because we are human beings and human beings are subject to doing wrong things. But what we must do when these allegations come about, we must ensure that we investigate and ensure that we find the true story to it.”
Keith Swift,
“But these sound to be things that are spiteful.”
Asst. Commissioner David Henderson,
“Well as police you don’t expect that sort of behaviour but then we must investigate it. It is an allegation we are now faced with and we must face it up and we must ensure that we do everything possible to find the true side of that story.”
Henderson says he has already spoken personally to the family.
