And not included in those 1,300 arrestees is our News Director Jules Vasquez. For the past few days some on facebook have been demanding that the commissioner arrest him after he was caught on camera without a mask when he responded to the street side arrest of Raymond Rivers.
When asked about it today, Commissioner Williams said he was not there, but did speak with the officers who were:…
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Upon seeing the video I questioned the officers who were working out there to ascertain from them what had happened and from the explanation I got was that the officers were busy dealing with Raymond Rivers who was behaving a way and they did not see Jules until a little while after and I spoke particular to the officer who was in in charge Supt. Chan and Chan said to me that upon seeing Jules Vasquez without the mask he approached Jules Vasquez and and said to him that he was not wearing a mask. Jules Vasquez immediately apologized to him saying he that he just ran out of the vehicle forgetting that he did not have on the mask and quickly Jules went, get the mask from his vehicle and put it on."
"If the officer accept Jules Vasquez's explanation and exercise his discretion not to charge Jules Vasquez based on his explanation, then I personally don't see nothing wrong with that and let me say that there are many Jules Vasquez out there including you and I. Last week Friday I went into Westrac, when I went into Westrac I see everybody at me like I am crazy I'm like wondering why are these people looking at me the way they were, then I realize I did not have on my mask and I quickly ran outside to my vehicle got the mask put it back on and I walk up to the cashier and I said to her "miss you could have told me I didn't have on my mask", she said Mr. Williams I didn't want to tell you. It is something that we are still trying to adapt to and so it happens to the best of us. Now some say that oh if it was a poor person and not a person of influence they would have got charged. I can tell you, every day police gives so many poor people breaks who are found without a mask. Most of the persons that police ends up charging for not having a mask, they got charge because of their mouth, because when the police warns them, they want to have an attitude and say things to the police and they have some of them who do it purposely don't want to wear the mask. So in terms of exercising discretion the police have been doing that. I can tell you I drove around with masks in my vehicle, boxes of masks and when I see someone without a mask I stop, I warned them and I give them as mask."
Email
Print