Despite a public tongue lashing from one of his senior officers and a half-page newspaper advert deriding desk-bound Police, Commissioner Jonathan Smith has chosen not to respond.

In yesterday's Narcotics chief Larry Smith accused his boss of lacking experience and chided him for a "disturbing and juvenile" outburst against senior officers.

Earlier the Commissioner had complained of "out of control officers" ignoring the Police Complaints Authority and living in a timewarp.

But Supt. Smith said the senior officers found it difficult working for a younger and less experienced man. Both men are due to leave the force soon.

Supt. Smith, who heads the Narcotics department, also complained about the lack of effort of uniformed officers in curbing street drug dealers.

He said while pushers fled when his team turned up, they took little notice when uniformed officers were around.

Coincidentally that was a theme taken up in a sarcastic half-page advert on page five of yesterday's placed anonymously by a group known only as the Tuesday Lunch Club.

The large type ad said: "Lost, one Police service. Would the finder please return same to the streets. TLC."

This drew a partial response from Police Media Relations, by way of a press release last night.

The statement ran: "It is not the practice of the Bermuda Police Service to respond to anonymous letters or advertisements.

"We would invite the individual(s) who have written the advertisement on page five in today's daily to formally put their concerns in writing and they will be addressed accordingly.

"However, Bermuda Police Officers continue to work 24 hours a day seven days a week ensuring Bermuda is safe, secure and peaceful for all to live. Officers should be supported for their sacrifice and encouraged to work for the betterment of the community."

However, officers spoke to said the advert hit home, even though one found it offensive.

That P.c. said night watches quickly got dangerously depleted through guard duties covering the Premier, Governor and cells while having to guard a crime scene could take up more personnel.

"Before you know it you've got one cop in a car ? that's the guy! It's deplorable.

"This is the most highly Policed place in the world with more cops per thousand of population but we still can't seem to get it right.

"Police want to walk the beat ? we are just not getting that assignment. It doesn't exist anymore. It is demoralising the Police service." But he said the public row among senior officers did not help matters.

Another mid-rank Policemen said he found the advert humorous as it raised some home truths about the lack of street enforcement.

Last night Opposition Home Affairs and Public Safety spokesman Michael Dunkley said he regretted the public row between senior officers who should be concentrated on corrected the ills in the service.

He said Police numbers were not as high as thought because so many were leaving the force and not being replaced. "Forty five officers leave every year. If you don't get 45 officers joining then you are already behind the eight ball."

He said the advert reflected the reality that Bermudians were concerned about public safety.