On the weekend, footage emerged of an unruly civilian acting out and slapping up two police corporals inside a bar. His blatant disrespect for the law was an embarrassment for the police - and since then we have learned that the aggressor is a Coast Guardsman. We asked the Commissioner about it today.
Jules Vasquez
"What do you make of that incident and what has been your communication with the Coast Guard since it happened?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I have not had any communication with the Coast Guard since, but I have given instructions to the police to make sure that Coast Guard officer is found and charged like any other person."
Jules Vasquez
"Should he face some higher level of sanction? I know the criminal charge can only be what it is. But should he face some higher level of sanction? Because as a lawman he is disrespected and beat up two of his colleagues."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I am sure that the commander of Coast Guard saw that video and it would be a matter for him to take disciplinary action against the Coast Guard. His conduct certainly went against the code of conduct of Coast Guard and I would hope that they would apply their disciplinary code to him so he can face charges not just criminally but also internally."
Jules Vasquez
"You are a very experienced officer, those are corporals. How would you handle a situation like that? Do you feel they handled it optimally?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well again, police officers you would notice over the past few months or years have been exercising great restraint in difficult times and it's because we have been saying to our officers that the use of excessive force against anybody is not going to be tolerated."
"So we are seeing that they are getting the message but at the same time it does not mean that police must subject themselves to be chanced by anybody. I wish they would have done more and put him in his place but they chose to do otherwise and I believe that they should be commended for displaying that even under extreme provocation they were able to maintain their minds or their composure and act reasonable in the circumstances."
Jules Vasquez
"What would you have done?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Me? I will not say."
