http://www.bermudaonion.com/community/saintorsinner.htm
Saint
or Sinner?
The
alternate lives of Colin Coxall (former Commissioner of Police)
Those
of you that are even mildly confused about the performance of Police
Commissioner Colin Coxall, nod your head. Okay, now you can stop; I can’t
type very well with my head moving around. The Commissioner’s tenure has
been surrounded by more rhetoric, fact and fiction than most of us could
chew. Here is a look at why Commissioner Colin Coxall will not soon be
forgotten.
Operation
Cleansweep
Operation
Clean Sweep was a drug sting on drug pushers, which was long overdue in the
minds of many Bermuda residents. The open market peddling of drugs was
rampant in Bermuda, particularly in residential neighborhoods. It was
estimated that amounts in excess of $20,000 were being sold in individual
street markets per day. Operation Clean Sweep has removed those drug dealers
from these markets, and seen them receive sentences fitting for their
crimes. Additionally, with the drug element being removed from the streets,
neighborhoods have been made much safer. We have Commissioner Coxall to
thank for having the courage to execute such an effective plan to eradicate
drugs in Bermuda.
Although
it had several very positive side effects on neighborhoods, Operation Clean
Sweep was most likely a political exercise. Crime statistics in January of
1997 showed that crime was indeed up from the year before. What better way
to counter those figures than by launching a grandiose campaign like
Operation Clean Sweep? Any serious attempt at ridding Bermuda of its drug
problems would not start with small-time two-bit street hustlers. The same
street hustlers are already in prison, yet more street hustlers easily
replaced them. There was also an element of racism in OCS, in that only
areas frequented by blacks were targeted. Not to mention the fact that such
dramatic tactics have yet to be used on sophisticated drug importers, who
more often than not tend to be white and quite affluent.
The
Fall in Crime
Commissioner
Coxall’s managerial acumen can easily be seen in the decline of
Bermuda’s Crime rates. For the first nine months of this year, crime
decreased by more than 35%, when compared to the same nine-month period in
1994. Acts of violent crime such as murder and armed robbery were also down
by more than 70% and 40% respectively. Crime has been on the continued rise
in the last five years, and these recent statistics are proof that the
Police must be doing something right. Ideas such as civilianizing the force,
as well as moving more officers to non-office duties has had a dramatic
effect on crime.
Commissioner
Coxall came to Bermuda in early 1995, which would mean that a great deal of
the initial fall in crime from 1994 would have come from practices
implemented before he came. What he can take full credit for is the fall
from 1995 – 1997, and he can take partial credit for what happens in 1998.
Crime figures from 1996 to 1997 actually are up, clearly showing that there
isn’t a consistent trend in a fall in crime. Bermuda also has a very high
rate of recidivism, which would naturally cause a cyclical effect on crime
figures. If you incarcerate a large percentage of criminals, with sentences
longer than twelve months, the resulting year’s figures will show a
reduction in crime. The new West Gate Prison is now full, with prisoners
being released early to make space for new prisoners. This clearly shows
that the rate of incarceration is up. Bermuda’s small population and arms
laws would also have an effect on statistics. If you have one armed robbery
in one year, and none the next, statistically you would have a 100% decrease
in armed robberies.
Irving
Pearman Affair
The Irving
Pearman affair clearly shows the integrity of Commissioner Coxall. Here we
have a situation where a well-respected MP has been found to be
well-connected to known drug dealers. This would be a highly contentious
issue for an officer of the law. Coxall did the proper thing by bringing the
matter to the Governor's attention. Premier Pamela Gordon has said that
nothing in Commissioner Coxall’s report on John Irving Pearman was worthy
of Pearman’s resignation or firing, but can you actually believe that?
This six page report led the Governor to recommended his resignation –
well surely there must have been something in those pages that disturbed the
Commissioner and the Governor!
John
Irving Pearman has a distinguished career in serving Bermuda. In a nutshell,
if Commissioner Coxall had serious evidence against John Irving Pearman, he
had the option of pressing charges. The fact that this wasn’t done shows
that either his evidence was weak, placing John Irving Pearman above the law
blew up in his face, or that the UBP has covered the situation up. He never
took the time to clear up the confusion by refuting the Premier and the
Governor’s claims; therefore, if the Premier and Governor are
unchallenged, he must be a corrupt or very foolish cop.
Bermudianization
I
don’t believe that Bermuda could have obtained a better Police
Commissioner. With a proven record in England, he came here to demonstrate
his consummate abilities. Bermuda has to ask itself if it wants a Bermudian
head of Police, or if it wants the best in policing. External audits of the
force showed that the force had undergone fundamental changes under
Commissioner Coxall’s leadership. Those changes had resulted in the
drastic fall in crime and improvements in the overall structure of the
Police Force. That report also concluded that a qualified Bermudian would
not be found for at least another ten years. Who could argue with this
report.
Would
a man with such a career give up his post if he did not have some strong
indication that his contract would be extended past the initial term? He
must have had the understanding that he would hold the post until
retirement. If he had only expected to be here for three years, he would
have had his next post lined up, regardless of leaving Bermuda five months
early. His option was to retire, which is hardly the actions of a man only
intending to be here for three years. Any report about Bermudianization
would have to justify him being here until retirement. Why would he set a
Bermudian in place to ruin his last hurrah? All other top Bermudian cops
were eliminated upon his arrival, clearly leaving no possible immediate
challengers to the post. He even failed to write a succession plan for
Bermudianization.
Resignation
It
is a shame on Bermuda to allow Commissioner Coxall to become a sacrificial
lamb in the sour politics of Operation Clean Sweep. It is apparent that
something is being covered up, as the Minister of Public Safety has done an
about face on the Commissioner. First he is lauded for his work, next he is
despised for not producing a report on Bermudianization. Am I to believe the
Honorable Member, Quintin Edness, when at first he denied any involvement in
the resignation? Mr. Edness previously claimed that the resignation was
because of the Opposition’s constant criticism of Commissioner Coxall. Am
I now supposed to believe that Mr. Edness is telling the truth, or will I
find out a month from now that this too was a lie?
"Rumors"
about Colin Coxall’s dislike of Bermudians, and blacks in particular, ran
silently over the last three years. Only once did we hear of disgruntled
Police Officers having a closed-door meeting with the Governor. It has even
been claimed that he labeled Bermuda a banana republic. Other statements
were to the effect that he preferred the RBYC crowd to others. Quintin
Edness has claimed that Commissioner Coxall refused to produce a succession
plan in a very disrespectful manner. I’ll bet that "very
disrespectful" was indicative of the sentiments expressed by others
several times before. Quintin Edness probably put his job on the line,
because this time Colin Coxall had the "gall" to look down his
nose on the wrong person. Then again, this is depending on whether or not
you believe Quintin Edness
