Questions Over Police Inaction: Public Trust in Police Tested

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A viral video is again sparking fresh concerns about police accountability, as an elderly man claims officers stood by and did nothing while his property was destroyed during a recent family dispute.

“An ongoing dispute over family property before the courts takes a dramatic turn as a video circulating shows a heated confrontation alleging that police on the scene does nothing to stop the destruction of property.”

This video raising obvious questions about police response at a time when police are facing public scrutiny over accountability.

Two months after a viral video allegedly showed an officer trying to coerce a tourist to pay him in order to avoid a ticket, then there was the incident involving the forceful arrest of a woman a few weeks ago, both sparking questions about police conduct.

Seventy-three-year-old Collin Collins sharing his recent encounter with police during a family property dispute, a matter he says is currently before the courts.

Collins claims instead of maintaining the peace, officers stood by and did nothing as property was damaged.

A video of the incident has since gone viral.

Collins says he has been left frustrated by the lack of basic police intervention.

Collin Collins, Resident
“Highly disturbed, mentally disturbed, a nephew of mine and the police came there and they saw him chapping at the door, they stood there so we had to call another set of policeman, we had to call 919 and they came, first set of policeman they just stood back.”

Matters like these are handled by the Complaints and Corruption Unit, which investigates complaints against officers.

Collins confirms he filed a complaint nearly two weeks ago. There’s been no follow-up from police.

Collin Collins, Resident
“I went to the police corruption, me and my son and we went there and made a complaint about it.”

Collin Collins, Resident
“Have you gotten any follow up on this as yet. No. So nobody’s reached out to you. No.”

Since talking to Collins, we contacted the Potters Cay Police Station, where the officers involved are based, as well as the commissioner of police.