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DREW HARRIS HAS been accused of leaving a “legacy of fear and distrust” among gardaí after his almost seven-year stint in the Garda Commissioner job, according to an officers’ body.
The Garda Representatives Association (GRA) further accused of Commissioner Drew Harris of dismantling community policing thanks to reforms pushed through during his term overseeing the force.
The GRA kicked off its annual conference this week in Killarney, Co Kerry. At the outset it has outlined a belief that the role of a frontline garda has been diminished and degraded, with this year’s conference carrying the theme ‘It Was a Job Worth Doing’.
At the core of its criticism was the Operating Policing Model which was introduced in 2019. This has seen a restructuring at regional and divisional levels, with the ambition having been to improve community policing according to the needs of each local community.
But GRA General Secretary Ronan Slevin said that Harris has implemented a model of policing that “isn’t working”, claiming that it has “single handedly removed community policing” from Ireland.
The GRA, which represents over 11,000 officers, said that this was because Harris had has tried to implement a “failed” UK model.
“If you were to analyze the commissioner’s term, I suppose you’d have to say that he’s implemented an operation policing model that isn’t working. He has removed community policing from Ireland, which was the envy of Europe. The system we had, that’s completely gone,” Slevin told reporters.
“He’s had the biggest budget available to him over his career, over his term of office, yet we still have serious issues in relation to recruitment and retention within the force.
“I believe that the numbers we currently have are the same that were in the force when the Commissioner took up his role, even though the population has increased exponentially.”
There is also much anger towards Harris because of a “severe” discipline and suspension policy, Slevin said, further claiming this has hampered members when using force while policing.
He added that the number of gardaí currently serving is roughly the same as when Harris took up his role, despite promises to increase the number of officers.
Deputy GRA General Secretary James Morrisroe said that community policing is about “frontline police knowing their communities while being visible and engaged in those communities”, which he said allows these gardaí to develop respectful partnerships to solve problems and achieve community safety.
“That is not happening,” Morrisroe said, “It’s plain to see. And I think members of the public tell us on a daily basis, it’s not happening.”
Quoting the Commission on the Future of Policing, the 2021 report outlining recommendations for the organisation, Morrisroe said that it noted that “the culture should be one of a team of professionals working together, not a hierarchy where foot soldiers await instructions from above”.
Morrisroe added that the report said that communication should be “personal interaction” and not written documents.
“We see that every single day in an Garda Síochána, where documents are posted on our portal and we’re supposed to read them and train up on them. And that is not what the Commission of the Future of Policing recommended,” Morrisroe said.
“Employees should have the tools, training, uniform, vehicles and equipment needed to do their jobs. Well, we don’t, so that’s a failure.”
This was the latest edition of the conference where the Garda Commissioner was not invited.
Two years ago, the membership of the association voted overwhelmingly that they had no confidence in Harris and therefore did not invite him to attend.
This has seen the new Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan also not attend the annual gathering.
Contacted for comment, a Garda spokesperson said on behalf of the commissioner that he was happy to work with the GRA and gardaí on the issues raised.
“As he has done in the past, Commissioner Harris would have been more than happy to attend the GRA conference and engage with GRA delegates on important matters for all Gardaí at the GRA conference, as well as recognise the great work done by Gardaí every day in keeping people safe,” the spokesperson said.
“However, the GRA Central Executive Committee has not invited the Garda Commissioner to address and discuss such matters directly with Gardaí at the GRA’s Conference.
“An Garda Síochána continues to meet with all Garda Associations, collectively, and separately on a wide range of issues.”
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In other news, when the coroner turned his back for 2 minutes Epstein cremated himself.
@Luke Lee: And his last words were : “But I don’t want to commit suicide……”
@Luke Lee: comment of the day
@Luke Lee: comment of the day
The plot thickens…dun dun dun. I’d say NETLFIX are only beside themselves.
@Cupid Stunt: it would be hard to hang yourself without breaking bones in your neck, to be honest. It doesnt really indicate that someone else was involved. I’m not saying they weren’t, but..
@Cupid Stunt: it won’t be Netflix, it will be Michael Moore.. he hates the super elite and the damage they can do to the average person.
@James Wallace: “more common in victims of homicide by strangulation.”
They wouldn’t nail their colours to the mast but they seem to be implying that there’s a strong possibility that Epstein was strangled.
The investigation is now looking at CCTV to see if anyone entered the cell in the lead up to Epstein’s death, a toxicology report to see if the man was drugged and are talking to all guards who were on duty that day.
They are certainly not convinced that this was a suicide.
@Cupid Stunt: Netflix won’t touch this. Netflix have a left wing bias, it’s blatant by what stories they do make documentaries about and what they don’t. I’ve been waiting for the Hollywood pedophile scandal to merit a Netflix documentary, Bryan Singer, Kevin Spacey. But, uh oh! They’re Democrats! So, no-go!
@Mártan Ó Conghaile: wouldn’t they have to wait for convictions so that they wouldn’t be sued out of existence?
@James Wallace: when hanging yourself off a bunk bed its less likely to break bones as you are basically choking yourself to death rather than actually being strung up by the neck
@D H: unless you jump.
@Peter Cavey: Nope. Moore is the elite. He transitioned quite a while ago.
Meanwhile the family of the coroner are devastated that he passed away in a car crash… next week
@Vote4Pedro: She! Joke worked better with the guards. Coroner not a threat to anyone, but if guards involved then they are.
I’m just sorry his victims will never really get justice
@SorchaHendry86: she is taking out a civil case against his estate. It is also likely that criminal action will be taken against his co-conspirators.
@Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86: firstly there is no conviction, so I do not know how you can take a civil action case against a dead man.
I’m going to cut to the chase here. Why would underage girls willingly go to a billionaires home for money knowing that they would be performing massages naked. I don’t buy the sex trafficking charges. But I would say he is guilty of sexual exploitation of minors, and deserves to be punished. I think the lure of money brought them there in the first place and it’s the lure of money and big payouts that are bring them to the courts. It smells of child prostitution in the West by rich by powerful rich men. I do not for a second think he should be be carrying the can here for the others, just indict them and name them, and let’s move on from Epstein.
@Paul O’Sullivan: People are ofter successfully sued in civil court without a finding of criminal guilt. Why don’t you buy the sex trafficking charges? What’s weird to me is your the girls knew what they were getting into bit, seems more than a little bit unfair.
@Sorcha Hendry instagram: @SorchaHendry86: didn’t they find loads of computers and flash drives? Hopefully there is something dodgy on those that can implicate some of these evil people.
The jail (Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York or MCC) was built to accommodate 474 inmates but held 763 prisoners at the time of Epstein’s death.
There’s a, staffing Crisis. Here’s staffing levels in federal prisons: https://i.imgur.com/byvQEFr.jpg, the drop in staff since 2017 is due to Government hiring freeze over disagreements involving the funding of the southern border wall, staff are retiring and quitting, no one is, replacing them.
There’s only one psychiatrist for more than 500 prisoners diagnosed severe mental illnesses in New York’s two federal jails, he/she works between MCC and Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn (MDC Brooklyn). This single overworked psychiats would have briefly seen Epstein after his first suicide attemp.
Due to staff shortages, since early 2018 the prison wings on MCC are staffed by only two guards. Indeed, there were only two guards on duty the morning Epstein was found dead.
One of the two guards was working a fifth straight day of overtime and the other was working mandatory overtime. Also, only one of the two guards, on 9 South where Epstein was held, was a prison guard. Officials refused to say what the other guard’s usual duties were. However in 2018, the New York Times reported that Teachers and Sectaries were filling in for prison guards at MCC.
In February 2018, a British court ruled against extraditing accused hacker Lauri Love – who is diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome – to the US, on the grounds that he might commit suicide at MCC due to the dreadful conditions there.
The heating failed in MDC Brooklyn in 2018 during a severe cold snap, this attests to the chronic underfunding of MDC, Brooklyn and MCC, MMC also has frequent complaints about mice and rats in prisoner’s cells, it has been described as a nightmare gulag, tougher than Guantánamo Bay.
“The segregated units are horrifying and inhumane,” said David E. Patton, the executive director of Federal Defenders of New York, who wrote by email.“If you wanted to intentionally design a place to drive people mad, you’d be hard pressed to do better.”
I don’t think he was attacked and killed, however I think it is possible they knew that suicide was a likeky and an intended outcome.
On the other hand he was always going to end up in MCC because he was living in New York, so they didn’t choose the worst prison. Bernie Madhoff, who’s mansion was a few blocks away from Epstein’s, was also imprisoned in MCC.
So on the other hand…
“Many journalists have fallen for the conspiracy theory of government. I do assure you that they would produce more accurate work if they adhered to the cock-up theory” – Bernard Ingham.
News Articles:
Prisoners Endure A Nightmare ‘Gulag’ In Lower Manhattan, Hidden In Plain Sight – 2018 article
Jeffrey Epstein jail ‘a gulag’ in lower Manhattan
Manhattan Jail That Holds El Chapo Is Called Tougher Than Guantánamo Bay – 2017 article
Safety Concerns Grow as Inmates Are Guarded by Teachers and Secretaries – 2018 article
In Short-Staffed Jail, Epstein Was Left Alone for Hours; Guard Was Substitute
Lauri Love would face ‘medieval’ conditions in US prison if extradited over hacking charges – 2017 article
@David Jordan: thanks for sharing, in other words the prison is houses inmates in inhumane conditions.
@Paul O’Sullivan: yes, due to chronic underfunding and a hiring freeze
@David Jordan: It’s not even a prison, it’s a jail. Only for people awaiting trial or sentencing. And pity about them if conditions are not worthy!
@Burn_the_Witch: you’ve just said that it’s not for the guilty then said those that are there deserve it!
@Dave O’Keeffe: Yes I did, didnt I. Would you like me to take it back?
@Burn_the_Witch: well in my opinion no person should be treated inhumanely in a prison. It is bad enough that a person is in prison that is the punishment in itself to be kept away from society. A prison is a building that houses prisoners it’s not a building to deprive a person of their sanity and to treat them inhumanely.
@Paul O’Sullivan: Well aren’t you a saint. Maybe if this guy and his ilk had their dirty little way with your daughter you might feel otherwise. Child abusers are the lowest form of life there is and sympathizers like you who pity them being in prison are part of the problem. How you can even say that on here is beyond me. What do you want, a letter of apology and a fine and off he goes?
@David Jordan: Sorry can you repeat that We all fell asleep with your cut n paste story
@Burn_the_Witch: There is a lot of people that are in American jails whom cannot afford to pay the bail or who are waiting to be put into a psychiatric hospital.Why do you want those people to suffer in appalling conditions,Burns?
@Conor V: Another new account pops up to help out another new account.That is soooo adorable.
@Burn_the_Witch: I am not just saying in Epstein’s case I am saying it for all prisoners.
@Tom Doyle: So we should make it like a play centre for adults because there are a few innocents? Don’t think so. I see your point but incarceration is a necessity and it’s never going to be a nice experience. In fact there should be a special wing just for the sex criminals where they are treated like the people they are.
@Paul O’Sullivan: well this is about Epstein, so how do you think he should be treated?
@Burn_the_Witch: no, you said every single person in there is innocent as they are awaiting trial. Epstein has been convicted of previously and got off very lightly, he was long overdue punishment.
@Burn_the_Witch: in response to how Epstein should be treated. Well 3 meals a day, an hour’s exercise , a bed to sleep on..access to a shower one phone call and possibly s book to read and night or a tv. How would you treat him ?
@David Jordan: Sounds exactly like what prison should be like.
@David Jordan: Sounds exactly like what a prison is meant to be like.
@Burn_the_Witch: FYI I don’t sympathise with sex offenders I believe in justice, justice for for all. That’s Victim, Survivor and Aggressor. I’ll informed people like you only sink to the level of the aggressor in my eyes.
@David Jordan: He attempted suicide, but was later brought off suicide watch less than a week later. Why? BOTH guards tasked with watching him fell asleep. BOTH? I frequently work overtime, I think it’s convenient that BOTH fell asleep and therefore didn’t witness “the suicide”. Now broken bones in his neck, indicative of strangulation. Not hard then to place twisted sheets around his neck, hey presto, a noose.
@Mártan Ó Conghaile: technically only one of them was a guard and he was doing overtime for the fifth day straight. It’s totally unacceptable and does need to be investigated.
Just dig a hole for him and let’s move on.
Ghislaine Maxwell has Jeffrey’s 100-page little black book of contacts. I would be very worried if I was her.
@jacquoranda: Could already be dead as nobody knows where she is
@jacquoranda: Mick Jagger and Eddie Irvine have been named….
@Padraig Carroll: the question is by who
@jacquoranda: her suicide is next week too….
No idea who this guy is, nor have I ever heard of him.
@Dan Skelton: He’s probably never heard of you either
@Dan Skelton: Well said Bill !
@Dan Skelton: I’d say there’s lots of things of haven’t heard of.
@Dan Skelton: a lot of high power people are saying the same exact thing
@Dan Skelton: Put the google app beside your Journal app.
@Dan Skelton: these two shocking revelations seem somehow connected.
@Dan Skelton: Seems to be a lot of that going around at the moment.
@pethelhug: Google!? The hell is that!? Stupid name!
Now that’s a proper prison. I do feel for the employees though, who have to put up with tough working conditions.
@Thewestisbest: prisons dont work except to offer the population an element of ‘they are off the streets’. But they are a major failure when it comes to correcting behaviour. Recidivism is huge (over 75% here I think) and prisons are a school for criminals. Thus we send people to prison (correctional facilities in the US) to correct anti-social and criminal behaviour and end up teaching those who pass through them to be more antisocial and better criminals. Making the prisons ‘tougher’ is degrading and inhumane and makes us as a society no better than the criminals.
@Thewestisbest: By their own standards it decidedly isn’t a proper prison
@Thewestisbest: it’s a pre-trial holding facility therefore nobody there has been convicted, they just haven’t posted, or have been denied, bail.
Lovely Day today I hope we get hot weather for a week
Then died in a tragic car accident next week…
Ray Donovan did it
There’s a report that someone was seen on a grassy knoll with a rope and a WW2 type rope launcher, he looked like a Mob type, almost certainly a Made Man, FBI have picked up some info on a wire tap, he may have been disappeared with approval from the Don and he’s now sleeping with the fishes.
I Jjjtiyooi
Wonder what kinda journey he will be on now…death always has the last say and is always the final decider.
No one can be with him at the end as he goes on his second journey, it’s something he will have to face on his own without the help of money or the powerful.
Looking more and more like murder then, must be a lot of pedos out there scared stiff in politics, royalty and in show business…
have your say