Restoring Confidence in Paradise (Night's Black Agents, Esoterrorists)

In 2010 the small island of St Lucia, population 175,000, was in the grip of what seemed a major crisis. Violent crime after violent crime rocked the island, at a time when St Lucia's tourism industry, already badly beaten by the recession, could stand very few shocks. The decision was made to launch Operation Restore Confidence, a major play to restore order by massive, armed police action, island-wide.

The area of the police’s focus? Wilton’s Yard formerly known as the Graveyard.   As the STAR reached the scene, reporters were met with hostility by some residents who claimed the media is being unfair in helping to label Wilton’s Yard as a hot spot.  On the flip side, others were supporting the police action but disagreed with the weapons the cops brandished.

From one end of Chaussee Road to the other was littered with police officers from various departments.  The most noticeable fixture was that of a gold pick up van parked between Courts and Roses.  On the back of the van stood a single member of the Special Services Unit scanning the area while an officer covered from head to toe in black, not an inch of skin visible, complete with a black ski mask, balanced a fifty caliber high powered rifle on sand bags.  The rifle was leveled at an unseen target along the Morne Du Don Road.

The island's prime minister at the time, Stephenson King, promised that 'no stone would be left unturned' in the search for violent criminals. While turning stones, the police were also shooting people, and it's since been revealed that at least twelve of those shot and killed were on a special police 'black list', Several other deaths attributable to police action were covered up as killings by unknown assailants, rolled into the murder statistics and forgotten about. It was alleged that all those shot were in fact murdered by the police, and that evidence was planted at the scene to make each killing appear to be a legitimate shoot.

This has come to light in part because the United States, strongly suspecting that human rights violations had occurred, withdrew all its support from the St Lucia police, including training exercises. St Lucia, a former colony, is dependent on foreign aid for its continued survival. This sign of discontent from such an important ally was a major blow.

The island initially tried to silence criticism by holding inquests of its own, which, in 2012, declared all twelve shootings lawful. This internal investigation did not satisfy the United States, so Jamaican investigators came to St Lucia to hold their own investigation. The Jamaican investigation has determined that the killings were staged by St Lucia police, though the full report has yet to be published.    

In an address from the current Prime Minister, Dr Kenny Anthony, it was said that the police force acted within 'an atmosphere of impunity and permissiveness.' 'Willful blindness' on the part of senior officers fostered this atmosphere, and 'the crime problem in St Lucia is facilitated by corrupt politicians, government officials, business persons and police officers.' Dr Anthony also said the full report would not be published, as its contents might endanger the lives of witnesses who came forward under condition of anonymity.

There's been no clear indication from Dr Anthony as to what might happen next. 'Personnel adjustments' have been promised, but prosecutions have yet to be announced, and the Police Commissioner still has his job, despite his apparent willful blindness.

In a small community like St Lucia, it is easy for local politicians, police and businesspeople to picture themselves as big fish, dominant people, beyond reproach and certainly beyond prosecution. This can lead them to do things which, in other jurisdictions, even knowingly corrupt jurisdictions, would be considered reckless in the extreme. When a reminder comes that they are, in fact, small fry in a large ocean, it can come as a nasty shock. Stephenson King, at the time of Operation Restore Confidence, was not only Prime Minister but also Minister in charge of National Security, which presumably makes him one of the willfully blind, along with the police commissioner and an unnamed number of others involved at a high level with the Operation, and with the police force in general. At this point there is no telling whether any of them will be prosecuted.

From an RPG perspective, what does this suggest?

An Esoterror operation could probably be conducted in a location like St Lucia without fear of disruption by the locals. What if the Ordo turns up, though? Usually the Ordo operates with the tacit approval of the local authorities, or at least is able to carry on its business without worrying too much about what the police might think. Even if the police do get involved on the enemy side, it's often a small faction within the force, not the force as a whole. In a jurisdiction like St Lucia, it may be a very different story. The cops, perhaps backed by important politicians, might be actively involved, and become an armed opposition to the Ordo's activities.

An interesting potential capstone to an Esoterror scenario set in a location such as this could be an Operation much like Restore Confidence, in which the police go in mob-handed and ready for war. This could easily turn into an extended Chase sequence, in which the characters have to avoid being captured, for fear of being put against a wall and shot in a so-called legitimate shoot.

In Night's Black Agents, assuming Conspyracy control over the territory, an Operation Restore Confidence could be a sign of local resistance to the vampire masters, with all the local vampire hunters ending up on the police 'black list.' The protagonists could arrive on the scene some time afterwards, perhaps as part of the investigative team sent in to determine whether the police action was justified. This could be an interesting part of a character's backstory, and a reason why they got burnt; the investigation came up with the wrong result, and the Conspyracy dealt summarily with the investigative team. Or, assuming the protagonists are on the ground at the time the Operation takes place, their investigation into local corruption - perhaps they were following up information that suggested the local financial industry wasn't what it seemed - turns deadly, when the police get involved.

That's it for now! Enjoy.

the crime problem in Saint Lucia is facilitated by corrupt politicians/government officials, business persons and police officers - See more at: http://stluciatimes.com/article/pm-2010-black-list-existed-investigators-recommend-%E2%80%9Call-police-officers-involved-be#sthash.yEP4PGvS.dpuf

within an environment of impunity and permissiveness - See more at: http://stluciatimes.com/article/pm-2010-black-list-existed-investigators-recommend-%E2%80%9Call-police-officers-involved-be#sthash.yEP4PGvS.dpuf

within an environment of impunity and permissiveness - See more at: http://stluciatimes.com/article/pm-2010-black-list-existed-investigators-recommend-%E2%80%9Call-police-officers-involved-be#sthash.yEP4PGvS.dpuf

The investigators said that during "Operation Restore Confidence", the Royal St Lucia Police Force operated within an environment of impunity and permissiveness designed to achieve the desired results.
They found that “wilful blindness existed in respect of the Commissioner of Police and particular members of his leadership and management team.”
The report also suggests that “the crime problem in Saint Lucia is facilitated by corrupt politicians/government officials, business persons and police officers.”
The investigators added that senior police officers refused to cooperate with the investigation and computers were tampered with to affect the investigation.
- See more at: http://stluciatimes.com/article/pm-2010-black-list-existed-investigators-recommend-%E2%80%9Call-police-officers-involved-be#sthash.yEP4PGvS.dpuf

The investigators said that during "Operation Restore Confidence", the Royal St Lucia Police Force operated within an environment of impunity and permissiveness designed to achieve the desired results.
They found that “wilful blindness existed in respect of the Commissioner of Police and particular members of his leadership and management team.”
The report also suggests that “the crime problem in Saint Lucia is facilitated by corrupt politicians/government officials, business persons and police officers.”
The investigators added that senior police officers refused to cooperate with the investigation and computers were tampered with to affect the investigation.
- See more at: http://stluciatimes.com/article/pm-2010-black-list-existed-investigators-recommend-%E2%80%9Call-police-officers-involved-be#sthash.yEP4PGvS.dpuf

The investigators said that during "Operation Restore Confidence", the Royal St Lucia Police Force operated within an environment of impunity and permissiveness designed to achieve the desired results.
They found that “wilful blindness existed in respect of the Commissioner of Police and particular members of his leadership and management team.”
The report also suggests that “the crime problem in Saint Lucia is facilitated by corrupt politicians/government officials, business persons and police officers.”
The investigators added that senior police officers refused to cooperate with the investigation and computers were tampered with to affect the investigation.
- See more at: http://stluciatimes.com/article/pm-2010-black-list-existed-investigators-recommend-%E2%80%9Call-police-officers-involved-be#sthash.yEP4PGvS.dpuf

The investigators said that during "Operation Restore Confidence", the Royal St Lucia Police Force operated within an environment of impunity and permissiveness designed to achieve the desired results.
They found that “wilful blindness existed in respect of the Commissioner of Police and particular members of his leadership and management team.”
The report also suggests that “the crime problem in Saint Lucia is facilitated by corrupt politicians/government officials, business persons and police officers.”
The investigators added that senior police officers refused to cooperate with the investigation and computers were tampered with to affect the investigation.
- See more at: http://stluciatimes.com/article/pm-2010-black-list-existed-investigators-recommend-%E2%80%9Call-police-officers-involved-be#sthash.yEP4PGvS.dpuf

The investigators said that during "Operation Restore Confidence", the Royal St Lucia Police Force operated within an environment of impunity and permissiveness designed to achieve the desired results.
They found that “wilful blindness existed in respect of the Commissioner of Police and particular members of his leadership and management team.”
The report also suggests that “the crime problem in Saint Lucia is facilitated by corrupt politicians/government officials, business persons and police officers.”
The investigators added that senior police officers refused to cooperate with the investigation and computers were tampered with to affect the investigation.
- See more at: http://stluciatimes.com/article/pm-2010-black-list-existed-investigators-recommend-%E2%80%9Call-police-officers-involved-be#sthash.yEP4PGvS.dpuf