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And while that is a public matter that is causing controversy right now - there’s another which has gotten far less attention.  That is the re-enlistment of a cop who was accused of killing a youth back in 2005.  It was a huge controversy at the time when 21 year old student Leslie Rogers Jr was gunned down on Euphrates Avenue by Constable Aldo Ayuso.

Ayuso was charged for manslaughter a year later, but never went on trial because the charge was withdrawn.  He was re-instated to the police department and then dismissed in 2011.

Well, Ayuso is now back in the department and has been for some months now.  And it’s raised some grumblings within the rank and file - because he is a cop who killed a civilian - and also because he worked with now Compol Williams in the CIU.  That was a short-lived, but hard charging unit where Williams was the OC.  Today we asked Williams about Ayuso’s re-enlistment.  

Jules Vasquez
"Sir, the controversies is you have reenlisted a killer cop. You have reenlisted a cop who has killed."

Chester Williams - Commissioner of Police
"Was Mr. Ayuso convicted for any offense."

Jules Vasquez
"He was not, sir."

Chester Williams
"Was he charged for any offense?"

Jules Vasquez
"He is an ex-police officer, a matter went before the court, the court ordered the then commissioner. An order of certiorari was made. The then commissioner did not honour it and so there is nothing to preclude Mr. Ayuso, like any other ex-police officer who maintains a good police record, from being reenlisted into the police department. Except the knowledge on the street that he is believed, with certainty, to have been the one who killed Leslie Rogers."

Chester Williams
"Mr. Vasquez, we have a number of police officers who have killed."

Jules Vasquez
"But you don't go and re-recruit them. I agree people have killed."

Chester Williams
"They are still in police service."

Jules Vasquez
"He was out of police. You went to re-recruit him."

Chester Williams
"Mr. Vasquez, the commissioner of police has the authority to reenlist ex-police officers where those officers that have demonstrated, since they left the department, a good conduct, have not been involved in anything where the law is concerned and Mr. Ayuso has demonstrated that. He was never charged with any offense, he was never convicted of any offense and as I have said before, the court in hearing his matter, that he took before the court, made an order directing the then commissioner to accept back Mr. Ayuso into the police department. So, I don't see anything wrong. It may be on your part because he has been reenlisted for quite some time, now and I have never heard anything negative on the streets. It is the first time that now that has been brought to my attention by you. So, if it is that you have some gripes over it Mr. Jules, then you are entitled to your gripes. But that is done."

Jules Vasquez
"But please sir, optics. Let us look at optics."

Chester Williams
"No more further questions about that. I am done with that."