SMN News has been reliably informed that a female police officer identified as Joyce Hassel was suspended some ten days ago because she might be implicated in some of the murders committed this year. "Not only was officer Hassel suspended, she was also banned from entering any of the Police Organizations on St. Maarten." The source said the officer in question has some questionable friends who are suspected of being involved in criminal activities that are allegedly known to the officer. SMN News learnt that persons who are suspected and are under the police radar for the murders of Amador Jones, the Arrindell brothers (Miguel and Rodolfo), Eric Lake, Kevin Gumbs, Sheldon Thomas, and Anthony Whyte were in contact with Officer Joyce Hassel. Investigators realized that the suspects have police contacts through phone tapping. The source said the investigators tapped certain peoples phones who they suspect are involved in the murders of several people and more than one of the suspects were found to be calling Officer Hassel.
"Officer Hassel also went with someone police is looking at to neighboring Tortola recently," the source explained.
In invited comment, Chief of Police Peter de Witte confirmed that the officer was suspended but refused to say for what she was suspended. "I can confirm that the officer was suspended 10 days ago but I am not in a position to tell you for what. We are busy investigating a certain case and when we are closer I will release the information," De Witte said.
Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos also refused to comment on the officer's suspension. "I will not confirm or deny anything regarding the officer," Mos said.
Some 16 murders have been committed so far for the year 2011. So far police managed to close four of the 16 murder investigations. Detectives from the TGO team and the Police Department are busy investigating the murders of De Leon Reyes, Amador Jones, Miguel and Rodolfo Arrindell, Eric Lake, Kevin Gumbs, Sheldon Thomas, Anthony Whyte and Mark Deygoo.
