Assistant Commissioner of Police Wayne Dick says officers of the Homicide Bureau are sometimes assigned to each investigate as many as 34 homicides. At a police news conference on December 31, acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams announced that the Homicide Bureau received a boost of 100 detectives to assist in outstanding investigations. Up to late yesterday, the murder toll stood at 18 for the year.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Dick, who is on vacation, said any new officer will need training, leadership and mentorship. The number of homicides Dick gave as being under investigation by a single officer was confirmed yesterday by other officers assigned to the Homicide Bureau. “The first aspect is a training plan, resources, physical resources and structure of accountability,” he said. He said new or inexperienced officers cannot just assume the duty of a homicide officer.
“They need training, leadership and mentorship. They need an opportunity to go abroad and work in the field for a short time. There is a difference in policing in American communities, though,” he said. Dick said while he was on active duty, he attempted to work on several projects with an officer who assisted in training and the development of officers within the United States Embassy.
“I was trying to put something in place before the end of 2014. The officers need mentorship which will drive them to be like their senior officers or even better,” he said. He said solving murders were not simple as “baking a cake” and takes time. “Solving a homicide does not have a time span for solving but the best work that can be done occurs within the first 72 hours (after the crime occurs),” he said.
Dick said officers needed to pay attention to current investigation and those that are “hot” and monitor those with “life in it.” He said the majority of senior officers in the Police Service executive does not have major experience as homicides officers.