Police officers have been advised not to leave home without their personal gun, even when they are off-duty. This latest statement comes from Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenn Hackett.
Hackett admitted the Police Service was not aware of any personalised threats given to any specific police officer but added that it was a broad-based threat that there was a $20,000 bounty for the killing of any law enforcement officer. “I have ordered an investigation into the authenticity of the threat and its source. I am yet to receive any update’” he said.
Hackett added that while he waited on the update, he was not going to sit idly and have the threat linger in the air and pass by. He said: “I have asked for police officers to be extra vigilant in the performance and execution of their duties and make sure that they were properly equipped to ensure their personal safety.” “I am aware that many of them have their licence for their personal firearms and I advise them to walk with their firearms when they are off-duty, especially. They have to look out for themselves and need to secure their own lives.”
Hackett, however, assured the public that while the officers protected themselves, they would not let their guards down with respect to protecting them from criminal elements.