The court blamed Curacao’s Police Force KPC for failing to ensure its members get regular and adequate training (see Tuesday newspaper) in the use of their service weapons. Two officers and a Volunteer Corps VKC member fired 13 shots at a fleeing vehicle and killed an 18-year-old occupant at Hanenberg in 2021.
They were convicted of joint (attempted) manslaughter but received fully suspended sentences, as reported in today’s edition. This enables them to keep their job without having to serve time in prison or perform community service unless they again commit a similar offence.
Judges felt that while authorised to do so, the number of shots fired was disproportional and should have been aimed lower at the car’s bottom or tyres, rather than bullets hitting the trunk and rear window.
This also seems relevant for St. Maarten, where police union NAPB President Marc Pantophlet marked Justice Day with a call for stronger investment in law enforcement. Justice Minister Nathalie Tackling recently also spoke of ongoing improvements and upgrades within the sector.
Yet little has been heard lately about the lack of a proper shooting range, which is essential for responsible and effective firearms training. Use was made in the past of a makeshift facility near St. John’s by the St. Maarten Police Force KPSM and even the hillsides at Back Bay by the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard.
Ironically, a forensic lab and professional shooting range were officially opened at the former Soremar Building in Orange Grove 10 years ago at the end of July 2016. Then Justice Minister Edson Kirindongo did the honours, with among others Governor Eugene Holiday and Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs in attendance.
Unfortunately the symbolic ribbon-cutting remained just that. The project spearheaded by also present Member of Parliament (MP) Frans Richardson, who supported Kirindongo in the governing coalition at the time, was never realised because no funds for such were made available in the end.
This issue should be revisited post-haste and comprehensively tackled once-and-for-all, possibly using means from the Crime Fund and preferably in cooperation with other armed services like the coastguard, marines and/or customs. Contrary to the saying, regarding marksmanship practice does not necessarily make perfect, but it can sure help.
