Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade, responding to criticisms made against the police force by the family of slain 11-year-old Marco Archer, said yesterday that the Royal Bahamas Police Force took no offense.
Greenslade did not want to comment yesterday on the ongoing investigations surrounding Archer's disappearance and death, though he stated that police are looking through case files to assist with their investigations.
He added that one man remains in custody in connection with the incident.
Archer's relatives insisted Wednesday afternoon, after police discovered the boy's remains, that the police were initially unresponsive when he was reported missing.  And they contended that police wasted time, only taking the situation seriously 24 hours or more after Archer went missing.
He was reported missing Friday evening.
However, Greenslade contended that officers were mobilized as soon as they got the call that Archer was missing.
"Whenever a child goes missing that takes on even more impetus because it's a vulnerable person and immediately work is done," he said.
"I am satisfied that once that report was received work was done.  I am satisfied work was done because I convened that meeting myself."
Greenslade said he understands that the emotions of the family and the trauma of the situation could cause strained relations between police and the victim's family, but he explained that officers should never take criticisms personally.
"Family members when they are confronted with matters like this are very traumatized and as a professional organization, as a professional people, we understand the attendant trauma," he said.
"Members of the community must be allowed to speak freely and must be allowed to vent their frustrations, and many times what they say might be correct.
"We never take a defensive posture and I will hasten to tell you, however, that I had an opportunity to meet with family members up close and personal.  I was very impressed with the interaction.  I was impressed then and I am impressed now."
Greenslade asked that while the investigations continue that Archer's family members be given the privacy they deserve.
He added that the community was instrumental in assisting with the arrest of a suspect in the case and in finding Archer's body.
His body was found in bushes behind an apartment complex on Yorkshire Drive in Cable Beach on Wednesday.
Many Bahamians showed their support for Archer's family and expressed their hurt over the little boy's death by posting the picture used on his "missing child" posters or posting a yellow ribbon on their Facebook profiles.

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