The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) is confronting troubling allegations of police officers supplying weapons and ammunition to criminals, intensifying public scrutiny after the arrest of a veteran officer. During a recent press conference led by Police Commissioner Verne Garde, Superintendent Luke Defreitas openly addressed these concerns, triggered by the arrest of Sergeant Ricardo Jerson Charlemagne for allegedly stealing an M16 rifle from the Gros Islet Police Station armory.
Superintendent Defreitas acknowledged the severity of the allegations, admitting they have persisted within the force for many years. “I’ve heard these allegations from the time I would have entered the service,” Defreitas remarked. “As to whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with an investigation along those lines has been very far and few between.”
Charlemagne’s arrest, after more than three decades of service, marks a significant blow to the RSLPF’s credibility. Although authorities successfully recovered the stolen rifle, the whereabouts of over 100 rounds of ammunition remain unknown, prompting concerns about further potential threats to public safety.
Superintendent Defreitas highlighted the RSLPF’s swift response and transparency following the discovery of the theft, stating, “We came out very early, very boldly to indicate that a firearm had been missing from a station in the north and that a police officer had been charged.” However, questions remain unanswered, especially regarding an earlier incident in 2024 when three handguns vanished from the same station without subsequent arrests. Defreitas did not comment on Charlemagne’s possible involvement in that unsolved case.
With public trust shaken, Defreitas stressed that transparency is vital for maintaining morale within the police force and rebuilding confidence among Saint Lucians. He underscored the significance of openness, saying, “Exposing the issue to the public was one of the ways we could have brought back or saved face with the public… this is not a situation we have covered up or shoved under a desk.”
As investigations continue, the RSLPF is committed to recovering the missing ammunition and reaffirming its pledge to uphold integrity and accountability in its ranks.
