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A police officer in Bonaire who signed a false report of attempted manslaughter following a high-speed chase—despite knowing no such offense had occurred—has been rightfully dismissed, the Court of Civil Servants has ruled.
The case involves a female officer of the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force (KPCN), who was dismissed on April 29, 2025, by the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. She challenged the decision, but the court has now upheld her dismissal, citing serious breaches of integrity.
False report after high-speed chase
The incident dates back to March 2024, when police officers pursued a vehicle during a high-speed chase that ended in arrests. In the aftermath, the officer signed an official complaint alleging attempted manslaughter by the driver.
However, during the investigation, she admitted that she did not believe an attempted manslaughter had taken place. Despite this, she signed the report, which was based on a version of events that did not reflect her own observations. The court found this to be a grave violation of duty.
By signing a criminal complaint for a serious offense she knew had not occurred, the officer risked contributing to the wrongful prosecution of a suspect. The court stressed that such conduct strikes at the heart of policing, where accuracy and truthfulness are fundamental.
Pattern of integrity breaches
Beyond the false report, the court also found that the officer failed to report alleged excessive force by a colleague against a handcuffed suspect during transport. While it was unclear whether she could have intervened in the moment, the court ruled she had a clear duty to report the incident afterward.
In addition, she was found to have shared sensitive information and video footage from the police investigation with a third party, in violation of confidentiality rules.
Although one allegation—related to another report—was set aside due to the legal principle of presumption of innocence, the remaining conduct was sufficient to establish serious misconduct.
“Integrity is not negotiable”
The court rejected the officer’s defense that she acted under pressure from colleagues or out of fear of workplace repercussions.
“Integrity is not negotiable,” the court noted, emphasizing that police officers must be reliable and act independently, even under pressure.
According to the ruling, the officer’s own statements showed that she knowingly compromised her integrity, choosing to go along with a version of events she did not believe to be true.
Given the seriousness of the misconduct, the court concluded that dismissal was justified and not disproportionate. It also agreed that the officer was unfit for the role, as her actions demonstrated a lack of the integrity and reliability required for police work.
The court further found no procedural errors in the dismissal process, noting that the officer had multiple opportunities to present her side during both criminal and disciplinary investigations.
Clear signal for law enforcement
The ruling sends a strong message about the standards expected within law enforcement across the Dutch Caribbean islands. Even in the absence of a criminal conviction, conduct that undermines trust and integrity can warrant dismissal.
Police officers are expected to uphold the law with honesty and independence at all times — especially in high-pressure situations where the consequences of misconduct can be severe.
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