Acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert says officers who break the law will be dealt with by the strongest arm of the law.

Philbert made the comment yesterday during his tour of the new and improved Scarborough Prison Facility and the commissioning of video conferencing at the Scarborough Magistrates’ Court.

Philbert made the comment a day after calling on officers who have exhibits in their possession to return them to police stations. His call came after several officers were found with exhibits in their possession in recent months, some even being charged for this infringement. Yesterday, he insisted that he does not want exhibits to be ’floating around the place since this must be avoided’.

There had been the belief that Philbert’s call would be a sort of amnesty to the errant cops. But yesterday, Philbert said officers who are found guilty on an infraction will be disciplined.

’I don’t know that people have exhibits at their homes, but if they do, we have advised them to do the right thing and bring them in. In some cases, there would be disciplinary action. The officers should not be afraid, they can explain to us and we would deal with the matter as it best fits.’

Philbert said it was imperative that officers seek to help the police service regain the good name of the institution.

’As it is, we have been given a bad name, and we are trying to manage it,’ he said.

Philbert was among several top officials touring the facilities yesterday, including Chief Justice Ivor Archie, Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicolls and THA Chief Secretary Orville London.