Cops fingered in man’s death still on the beat

THE FOUR police officers currently under investigation into the suspicious death of 23-year-old Shaun Mc Leod are still on the job, police sources said yesterday. Inside sources told Newsday the officers were on patrol duty and disciplinary action was yet to be taken against them. Senior police sources confirmed that the police corporal and three police constables were still on formal duty. Sources explained that there were certain procedures to be carried out before suspension or dismissal of a policeman could be done since the Police Service is regulated and controlled by the Police Service Commission.

The source said when the officer appointed to probe McLeod’s death completes his investigation, the file would be submitted to the Head of Southern Division — Snr Supt Desmond Lambert — who would then forward it to Acting Commissioner of Police, Everald Snaggs. Snaggs will then meet and hand over the file to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson. If DPP Henderson decides there is sufficient criminal evidence against the officers, he would then advise Ag CoP Snaggs who in turn would inform the Police Service Commission, under whose sole authority the officers in question can be suspended (pending the outcome of a criminal case).

Sources told Newsday that several statements have been taken from eyewitnesses and the file is expected to be completed by tomorrow. In the absence of any criminal charges being laid against the officers, Mc Leod’s family is making preparations to proceed with civil action. Several witnesses have already given statements to the family’s attorney. His wife, Mackiba, said tentative arrangements are being made to have his funeral service on Friday. Mere minutes after being arrested for obscene language at Library Corner, San Fernando last Friday, Mc Leod, of South Oropouche, was pronounced dead on arrival at the San Fernando General Hospital. An autopsy revealed he died of blunt force trauma to the head. ASP Ruthven Paul of the Southern Division Homicide Bureau was mandated by Snr Supt Lambert to carry out investigations.