The Aruba Police Union (SPA) has expressed its concern and regret regarding the recent shooting incident in Pos Abou, during a press conference held by its president, Rodney Solognier. According to Solognier, the situation that occurred is not a common event in Aruba and should not have happened.
The president emphasized that the police, as public servants, have the responsibility to protect and serve the community, and that the role of the police is based on mutual trust between authorities and citizens. “What happened does not represent how the police should interact with the community,” Solognier stated, adding that SPA shares the pain felt by the affected community.
Handling of patients requiring care is not the responsibility of the police
During the press conference, Solognier clarified that the handling of patients with severe mental health problems is not primarily a police task. According to him, such patients should receive appropriate assistance from competent institutions, and the lack of cooperation between different government departments and foundations that should work together contributes to extreme situations.
SPA indicated that the union has repeatedly warned that police officers are neither trained nor mandated to handle medical-psychiatric situations, but only to provide assistance within a criminal context. According to the union, there must be a clearer structure and stronger inter-institutional cooperation to deal with these types of cases.
Public reaction and criticism on social media
Solognier also referred to the many critical comments circulating on social media, especially Facebook. According to him, although many people express opinions from a distance, the operational reality in such complex situations is very different. “In a difficult scenario, decisions must be made within seconds, where the outcome can be fatal for either the police officer or the patient,” he emphasized.
Lack of adequate equipment for KPA
Another critical point raised during the press conference was the shortage of essential equipment for the Aruba Police Force (KPA). According to SPA, tools such as body cameras and tasers are essential for modernization and police safety, but there is still no approval or budget allocation for their implementation.
Solognier acknowledged the efforts of Minister Arthur Dowers to secure bulletproof vests for police officers, but pointed out that KPA is currently facing a serious bureaucratic problem, with relevant documentation apparently “missing without a trace.” According to SPA, this is an unacceptable situation that must be urgently resolved.
Call for calm and community trust
Finally, the SPA president informed that the police officers involved in the incident have received medical assistance and are under the care of mental health professionals. According to Solognier, the event was not something they desired or sought.
SPA called on the community to remain calm and not view the police as enemies. “The police must be, and remain, friends of the community, with the objective of bringing safety, peace, and solutions to difficult situations,” Solognier concluded.