Last week we told you that the police officers who were in charge of the detention cell when 60 year old Nestor Vasquez Jr was beaten have been recommended for dismissal. His head injuries, inflicted by the mentally ill Colin Francis left him comatose and led to his death two days later.
Today the family issued a statement commending police, but cautioning, quote, "even as we are pleased with the progress in the disciplinary proceedings, we still urge the Police Department not to treat this as an isolated incident….The Police Department is duty-bound to address this as a systemic problem of a culture of brutality and inhumanity within its organisation. October 10th is World Mental Health Day…we hope that the Government does more than simply pay lip service to the need for improved mental health services in this country, but rather takes decisive action and commits to the establishment of:
- An acute unit at the KHMH to provide short-term urgent care to persons experiencing an acute and volatile psychotic episode; and
- A forensic unit for patients to provide medium-term care to persons whose mental health condition involves prolonged episodes which may pose a threat to themselves or others."
End quote. The statement also says, quote, "we continue to await the decision from the DPP on criminal charges against Sergeant Shawn Walton, and Constables Edward Pitterson and Bernard Cayetano." End quote.
No one has been charged for Vasquez's death.
Email
Print