Don’t be a hero because you might be a dead hero, police are warning Bahamians. <\/P><\/p>\n
Inspector Ken Strachan cautioned fellow Rotarians against being rash when approached by an armed assailant, and urged them give the robber what he wants. <\/P><\/p>\n
“If only for your family’s sake and God’s sake give them what they want, be that coward if only for that minute and allow yourself to take another breath.” <\/P><\/p>\n
Insp. Strachan, speaker at a Rotary Club meeting held at Super Clubs Breezes, told his fellow Rotarians the weekend death of businessman James Bethel was a wake up call to Bahamian society. <\/P><\/p>\n
Mr. Bethel, 43, was the country’s ninth homicide for the year. Three more people have been shot dead since then. <\/P><\/p>\n
Mr. Bethel and the 6-year-old daughter of a friend were walking in the parking lot of Tropical Nursery, Village Road, on Saturday, when two gunmen approached him. Mr. Bethel struggled with the men before he was shot. <\/P><\/p>\n
Insp. Strachan said he was at the Wulff Road police station when he received the call of the shooting. <\/P><\/p>\n
He said Mr. Bethel, originally from Canada, but settled in Nassau, married in 1987 and lived just off Village Road. <\/P><\/p>\n
Insp. Strachan said Mr. Bethel and his wife became foster parents to 6-year-old Rosaria after her father died in a car accident several years ago. <\/P><\/p>\n
He said Mr. Bethel placed Rosaria in Nassau Christian Academy School. <\/P><\/p>\n
Insp. Strachan said when one of the officers at the scene asked little Rosaria whether she knew Mr. Bethel, she answered yes. <\/P><\/p>\n
“His name is James,” he said of little Rosaria’s response to the officer’s question. <\/P><\/p>\n
Insp. Strachan said every Saturday Mr. Bethel and his wife would pick her up to spend the day with them. <\/P><\/p>\n
He said before taking Rosaria back to her mother, who work at John Chea at East Street South, Mr. Bethel stopped at Tropical Nursery to get Rosaria a gift. <\/P><\/p>\n
Insp. Strachan told his fellow Rotarians that witnesses saw what happened and tried to assist Mr. Bethel, but retreated after hearing gunshots. <\/P><\/p>\n
Mr. Bethel’s sister and his brother-in-law were returning to Canada. <\/P><\/p>\n
“They had already boarded the plane, ready to leave, and having found out what happened, were able to stop the plane,” he said. <\/P><\/p>\n
Insp. Strachan said the shock of her husband’s death had not sunk in when he visited Mrs. Bethel later that evening. <\/P><\/p>\n
He said she had already made plans for Rosaria to receive counseling after such a traumatizing event. <\/P><\/p>\n
Insp. Strachan told the Rotarians that criminal evil touches every one of them. <\/P><\/p>\n
He said that last year, during the same time period there were 11 homicides. <\/P><\/p>\n
“Are we still going to have another gruesome homicide count,?’ he asked. <\/P><\/p>\n
He said while no plan is fail-safe, an investment in security measures and proper lighting can go a long way to deterring crime. <\/P><\/p>\n
Insp. Strachan said the wealthiest people in the world have fallen victim to crime. <\/P><\/p>\n
Earlier Commissioner Paul Farquharson, in presenting commendations to police officers, thanked them for taking time from their families to serve the country. <\/P><\/p>\n
Insp. Strachan said it would be very scary if police stopped when faced with the realities of a Kemp Road and Bain Town scenario when responding to their duty. <\/P><\/p>\n
Commenting on the debate regarding tinted car windows, Insp. Strachan recalled many times approaching a vehicle and not knowing who or what was on the other side of the glass.<\/P><\/p>\n
By Sean Inniss, The Nassau Guardian<\/B><\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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