Ex-Po President Cal Smith
We have received the following request from our ExPo President, Cal Smith;
Dear All,
Apologies for the lateness of this request. Please see the correspondence below from (Rtd) Justice Wade.
Our own former ACOP's Carlton Adams and Wayne Perinchief are already offering their assistance in this inquiry and a request is being made for other former police officers to join them in this very important investigation.
i am therefore seeking the assistance of our EXPO members to offer themselves in this regard. If you are interested in doing so I would ask you to respond as soon as possible and although this is short notice you would be welcome to be present at a meeting to be held at 1100hrs, Thursday 17 September 2020, at Sophia House, 48 Church Street, Hamilton.
Alternatively, kindly let me know your availability at your earliest convenience, if you would be interested in assisting with this historic investigation.
Regards,
Cal
Subject: Invitation to serve
Request from (Rtd) Justice Norma Wade-Miller
To: (Rtd.) Chief Inspector Mr. Calvin Smith
President Ex-Police Officers Association
Commissioner’s Staff Officer
Dear Officer Smith,
I trust that you are keeping well and has effectively navigated hurricane Pauline.
I am writing in my capacity as Chair of the Commission of Inquiry (COI). As such I reiterate my earlier telephone conversation seeking your assistance to circulate the COI’s below call for support from retired Police Officers. Their volunteered assistance will enable the COI to get through some remaining investigations. These are essential to readiness for the resumption of the COI’s hearings on 19th October 2020.
Towards the conclusion of my remarks at the opening of the COI hearing I made the following public appeal:
“ …Before I end, please allow me to make what I would like to call a public service appeal. In order to ensure that we properly deal with as many of our cases as possible prior to our October hearing, I would like to invite any retired police officer who is willing to volunteer his or her service to come forward to assist us. The investigation process is not complicated, as our chief investigator, Mr. Carlton Adams, will avow. Any retired officer who is able to assist should contact the Commission Office on the fourth floor of Sofia House, 48 Church Street, Hamilton or contact 535-9801. What could be better than to give the gift of helping our community heal?”
The Commission does not have the means to provide financial compensation for your valuable time. However, we would have you receive recognition by acknowledging your contribution in the form of a group photograph placed in the COI’s report, along with other notable photographs.
After the COI’s mandate is completed, the Chair will host a formal reception with the attendance of dignitaries and contributors who made success possible, including investigators. Moreover, as officers are to investigate and take statements from witnesses, they should give a short testimony to get their name onto the record. Furthermore, this provides a once in a lifetime opportunity for officers to serve with their former colleagues on a matter of historical significance.
I offer strongest encouragement to not let this opportunity to serve in this manner pass by.
After Hurricane Pauline clean-up is over, I propose a meeting at Sophia House on Thursday September 17th at 11:00 a.m. to advance these matters. Alternatively, kindly let me know your availability at your earliest convenience, to meet at that venue.
Respectfully,
(Rtd) Justice Norma Wade-Miller, O.B.E., J.P.
Editors note - We would urge our Members to give serious consideration to volunteering to assist with this investigation. It is noteworthy that the Chief Investigator is our good friend and former colleague Carlton Adams who is a member of our ExPo Committee, and that retired ACOP Wayne Perinchief has also kindly offered his services in this regard.