Blogging policeman resigns

A police constable who faced disciplinary charges after launching an online blog has resigned and will leave Bermuda in August.

Allan Palmer, from St. Vincent, told The Royal Gazette he handed his notice into Bermuda Police Service last Friday. "The whole thing is just a waste of my time and their time," he said.
"I'm not fighting for a job. It just doesn't make sense fighting with these people. They would have their own way no matter what happens so I have just decided to call it a day."

Mr. Palmer incurred the wrath of his superiors after launching his Crushing Fools blog at the end of last year. He posted a message on the internet journal in January — since removed — claiming that "ambitious people" within the Island's Police service were trying to take it back into the dark ages by silencing officers such as himself and "perverting the course of internal justice".

His bosses responded by suspending him from duty — but his critical posts about other officers continued.

Last month, Mr. Palmer was served with a charge sheet containing six charges and told to attend a disciplinary hearing.

The 41-year-old said he saw no point in going through the disciplinary process and has instead opted to leave the Island and look for work elsewhere.

He would not reveal where he intends to head next, claiming: "I don't want to say if I have got a job; knowing these people they will try to put stumbling blocks in my way."

He said he had no regrets about Crushing Fools. "I don't regret setting the blog up one bit. Everything has been worth it."

The single father-of-three said his decision to resign was partly fuelled by the fact that he wanted to spend time with his eight-year-old son Malique, who is going to England to live with his mother.

Mr. Palmer's other two children live outside of Bermuda.

"It's also time for me to move on," he explained. "Four years for me in Bermuda is quite enough. Bermuda has a lot of money to offer its workers but there is more to life than money.

"I would not be sad to leave the Island although I'll miss a few of the friends I have made. I'm just shooting off into the sunrise."

A BPS spokesman said: "The BPS does not comment on officers' personal HR matters."