Comment of the day

This comment has been posted by a former police officer beneath a post that is now moving off the front page, so I’ve uploaded it here.

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Gaetano Pace

Knowing most of the top brass in the Armed Forces, what real gentleman they all are, it is very sad and tragic to watch things as they happen.

It is being assumed that these gentlemen know their codes of honour and all the Utopian stuff.

They also know that in our system hardly ever does anyone assume the responsibility of his office, pack up and go. Now that this the practice of Maltese governments, whose members never pack up and go, having assumed political responsibility why should any of their subordinates go by the diktat?

I do understand the responsibility of officers toward their subordinates which at times comes at a very high cost which the family of the officer will have to bear the brunt of. I experienced this on a personal level.

Just to mention one instance, a policeman had two bad eggs thrown at him in my presence. I immediately issued charges for prosecution. I was directed by my superior officer to withdraw the case. I refused. After the umpteenth time of disobeying that order with as many transfers that followed, I am faced with my Personal Dossier.

That is the red light glowing in the path of disciplinary action.

I challenged my superior and wrote bluntly that if, like me, he had all the proof, it was his duty to proceed to the Public Service Commission and the Criminal Courts (the claim was that I was disobedient, insubordinate and rebellious – serious charges against a police officer) in the same manner that I did when I had proof at hand.

The question arises, having been loyal to my service, faithful to my men and my duty, what would have happened had I been dismissed? What about my family? What about their future? Their education? Their daily bread and butter?

So let us not be rash and let us take the opportunity to go a step ahead and farther in establishing procedures and rules.

In this particular instance, the Brigadier would have stood for his men, would have done what everyone is wishing here he would have done. Bravo. Come the Minister and ORDERS him to hand in his resignation. What then? Who would be defending the Brigadier`s men?

We must not forget the Effie Bencini case in the Police Force. He tried to take a stand only to find that Mintoff was demanding his resignation. How far have we come in all these years? As Dr Saliba states, have we learned anything since? Is there political consensus regarding matters such as these?

Have we forgotten the de Grey case of ’58 and Mintoff`s reaction? Are we oblivious to the humiliation de Grey was made to go through? I still do not see any monument to honour any Police Commissioner or Army Brigadier.

I do believe that rather than take sides, waste time, let us start building from the foundations up and analyse the events past and present and establish what these high-ranking officers should be doing within the framework of our invasive politics, which has permeated and seeped into everything going on in this land.

Finally, may I be allowed to express my understanding of these very difficult moments for all the officers of the Army and their families who surely are not enjoying the ride. My solidarity with all of you, for old times’ sake.