Electronic monitoring firm hits back

Thu, Aug 1st 2013, 11:41 AM

The head of the security company that manages the government's electronic monitoring program said yesterday he is satisfied that the company followed proper protocol in monitoring a suspect who was found dead on Monday.

"I am satisfied that our staff are following the procedures that are laid out for the program and are using the protocols that were designed to manage the program, manage the offenders and manage their communication with the offenders," said Stephen Greenslade, president and CEO of ICS Security Concepts.

Greenslade said the assertions made by Minister of State for National Security Keith Bell about the company's management of the program are "without foundation".

He identified the man police discovered on Monday wearing an ankle bracelet as Anthony Rolle Fox, 33, a resident of Kennedy Subdivision. Rolle had been monitored for just over a year, according to Greenslade.

He said all records are available to verify every step that was taken relating to Rolle, though he did not provide those details.

So at this point, it is still unknown if the company had stopped tracking Rolle, or when. Police believe Rolle, who was found off a dirt road near the South Beach Canal, was dead for at least a week.

Police said two fired cartridges were found near his body and his shirt had bloodstains. Outside Cabinet on Tuesday, Bell said the program is clearly "flawed".

He said the number of people who were killed while being monitored is "totally unacceptable", but was unable to provide an exact figure.

Greenslade said yesterday that based on his company's records five people were killed while being monitored since the program began in 2010.

He said the program is not intended to prevent offenders being monitored from committing crimes or becoming victims. Greenslade said there are many misconceptions surrounding the program's abilities and purpose.

"To say that this program will prevent people from committing crimes is a huge misconception," he said.

"I say that because someone being monitored could walk right outside their house, outside their door and commit a crime.

"The positive to that is the police will be able to determine that they committed that crime after weighing all the circumstances or compiling all the evidence.

"It will help in the control, but it would not prevent it entirely."

He added, "An ankle bracelet is not designed to stop bullets or brace against the attack of a deadly weapon."

The Ingraham administration signed a three-year, $2.7 million contract with ICS in December 2010. That contract expires in November.

Bell and Prime Minister Perry Christie have suggested that the government may have to find a new company to monitor the people wearing ankle bracelets.

But Greenslade said ICS has met every expectation laid out in its contract. The device used is the most efficient in the market and the company remains a leading security service provider, he said.

"I will defend the reputation of my organization at all cost," Greenslade said. He said that includes letting the contract go if necessary.

Greenslade also noted, "Where there is no court ordered restrictions on an offender to stay home or stay in a particular area at certain times, that individual has the right or the ability to move around the island as she or he sees fit.

"Now we can see where they go, but we can't tell what they are physically doing at all." Greenslade said he has reached out to both ministers of national security, but to date has not had an opportunity to speak with them in detail as to the way forward.

said in the interest of his company's reputation, he wants the matter involving Rolle's death to be resolved as soon as possible, and the government to express one way or the other what will happen come November.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

 Sponsored Ads