Criticism of police’s handling of Colton Harris-Moore case is ‘apropos’

I have been to the Bahamas five times in my lifetime. The first in 1953 and the last about four years ago. In the course of these visits, I spent time in Nassau three times, the Jack Tar Hotel on Eleuthera twice, and Andros and three or four of the outer islands several times. In addition, I had friends who lived there. Based primarily on these visits, it is my opinion that one could hide in the Bahamas fairly easily and about as easily as the mainland USA. It would appear therefore, the task was no easier for the Bahamian police than the police here.

August 3, 2010 3:18 pm

I read with interest the “Letters To The Editor” section of the July 21 issue of The Journal, particularly the letter written by Michael S. McElrath, a 9-1-1 dispatcher in the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.

In said letter, Mr. McElrath takes issue with one sentence of Jeff Asher’s response to a letter written by the undersheriff and three deputies. In his letter, Mr. Asher states the investigation and apprehension of the so-called “Barefoot Bandit” could have been handled better, and that he had the talent to do so.

Whether or not he has the talent to do so is a matter of opinion at this point in time, however, the inability of this country’s police, including our own, to catch the ”bandit” in more than two years’ time — even though in that two years he stole two airplanes and several boats — whereas, the Bahamian police apprehended him in about two weeks’ time, is a very disturbing fact. Disturbing though it may be, it is nevertheless a fact.

This leads to the question as to whether it was an easier task for the Bahamian police to catch him. I have been to the Bahamas five times in my lifetime. The first in 1953 and the last about four years ago. In the course of these visits, I spent time in Nassau three times, the Jack Tar Hotel on Eleuthera twice, and Andros and three or four of the outer islands several times. In addition, I had friends who lived there. Based primarily on these visits, it is my opinion that one could hide in the Bahamas fairly easily and about as easily as the mainland USA. It would appear therefore, the task was no easier for the Bahamian police than the police here.

Judging from the facts in this case, namely the performance of the American law enforcement agencies make one wonder if some change in police procedure isn’t in order, and Mr. Asher’s criticism of the police handling of this case is quite apropos.

For what it’s worth, my father-in-law was a local police officer in upstate New York for some 30 years and I’m sure he would be appalled if he were alive today and heard about this case.

Robert R. Fritz
San Juan Island