Last night police officers from the north who work until midnight in the city had to scramble to find last minute sleeping accommodations. That meant crashing with relatives or at the police station.
That's because once again the bus that the department has contracted broke down and could not be ready in time.
It's a chronic problem that's been demoralizing officers - and we asked the commissioner about it earlier this week:
Jules Vasquez
"There's a bus situation, the officers in the north are complaining constantly that the bus is not available, the bus broke down. So, what is your answer to this situation that's causing a lot of stress for your officers?"
Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"First and foremost Jules let me say that I am under no obligation to provide transport for police officers. The wider public servants do not that get that luxury."
Jules Vasquez
"But they don't work until midnight."
Chester Williams
"It doesn't matter, that is why the reason we pay police officers a housing allowance for them to live where they work but we do understand that some people may wish to live away from work and it is with that spirit that we gave them the privilege of helping subsidizing a bus out of public money to assist them. That being the case, I am fully aware of the complaints and I have tasked Mr. Jones who is my legal officer to look at the contract we have with the bus run owner and see how it can be rectified. If it is a situation they cannot rectify, then certainly we'll cancel the contract and we will look for someone else who can provide the service the way we expect it to be provided."
Jules Vasquez
"Is the bus run provider the minister's driver Mr. Furgeson, aka Chicken dread?"
Chester Williams
"No, I don't think so."
The Compol said he wasn't sure who has the contract.
