Untitled Document On Tuesday we told you that Commissioner Williams would be leaving with a lavish luncheon - as is standard practice. However, precinct commanders we requested to bring gifts for the ComPol. And they would be given $800 to purchase those gifts.
But while we initially believed that that directive was given to the 30-plus commanders in the department, Williams clarified that it's only the 4 precinct commanders. Still, that's $3,200 out of public funds.
But the ComPol says he deserves it.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Me personally, I am not a fan of gifts. I was raised with a mother who couldn't afford to buy me a birthday gift, a Christmas gift or any kind of gift? So I was raised that way and so gifts do not move me, even now when people offer me gifts I say I don't need no gifts. But at the end of the day."
"If it is that my colleagues in the department wants to have some event or some function to celebrate the time that they had spent with me and the time that they have given to this country over 33 years of service. And if they see the need to give me a gift as a token of the appreciation, then I certainly would welcome it."
"But this whole issue that was leaked to Channel seven, I do not understand why it is an issue. I am not the first. I am not the second. I am not the third. Every commissioner, every senior officer, and even every constable when they retire, we always ensure that they have something for them and that they do get gifts as I depart, as they depart."
"But some people are just so mischievous. They try to make an issue out of it for their ow aggrandizement and I hope that they get the satisfaction that they was hoping to get from it. But at the end of the day for me, I do believe that whatever is given to me, I deserve it. I have worked my entire life for this country."
"And the thing is that I have even cut down on what had been done for my predecessors because they were going to have a big party and it was going to be a big party where a number of persons from the public would have been invited would have had to rent a space and it would have cost so much money."
"And I said that I said to them no, I don't want that. I would rather have something with only the senior command. That is going to cost far less than having this lavish party that had been done in the past. So when you compare what I am getting to what my predecessors have got, it is nothing."
Reporter:
"Sir, but isn't $800 per commander a little excessive in a department where you guys are always clamoring for more resources."
"It is not $800 per commander for what I get was made to understand. It was a the precinct commanders who were asked to get a gift at the tune of $800. We have four precincts so that's four persons. So the way how Channel 7 put it was totally out of line. But I guess that you all were misinformed by the mischief maker."
"And so you are only reporting on what you were told. But I sought my best to inform your director of how it works. But again, your director loves me so much. If I was his wife, I would leave him because certainly he seems to be more infatuated with me than anything else in the world. It's part of life."
"I do not blame him. I blame God for making me so handsome."
