morale plummet, and is putting the community at risk through cuts and mismanagement.

The damning indictment has come from a Police officer of many years experience.

He hit out: "I have never under even the most extreme circumstances seen the morale of Police officers at the rock bottom low that it is now. There is no confidence in the present Commissioner, nor in his advisors.'' But yesterday Commissioner Edwards lashed back and vowed to boot the officer out of the Force if he identified him.

Mr. Edwards defended his 10 months in the job, saying he was forced to cut manpower after Government trimmed the Police budget, more than 80 percent of which goes on salaries.

The cuts were deeply regrettable, and had hit morale. But there was no other choice, said Mr. Edwards.

"I love the Police service, and have been in it 30 years. I think I have served this Country well.

"I have made a good living from it for myself and my family. I imagine this officer has done likewise.'' Mr. Edwards and other top officers have come under heavy fire in a letter to The Royal Gazette .

The Policeman does not want to be named, but stresses he is not a disgruntled contract officer.

"Too many times over the past year, the Commissioner has made promises that have not been kept, yet nobody follows up on what he has said.

"It is time to force him to answer. He said he would do more for community relations, now he is cutting parish constables.'' The officer adds: "Why are we reducing the size of the service when some of the divisions are already unable to put sufficient manpower on the streets, particularly in the eastern and western divisions?''.

Many Policemen are in positions that could be held by civilians, the officer said. Examples include: A sergeant and constable earning between them $6,500 a month as carpenters, and allegedly doing private work for senior officers; An inspector, sergeant, and constable in the radio repair shop, with a collective wage of $10,500 per month; A sergeant and constable running the Police Recreation Club, costing $6,500 in wages; and Two sergeants and two constables supervising the cadet training school, when the cadets spend most of the week in Bermuda College. Monthly staff wages: $13,000.

The officer asks: "Why are we losing experienced, enthusiastic, dedicated Policemen because of budget cuts, when we are carrying people in positions that should be civilianised, or at least reduced to save money? "Why can't you and the public see the writing on the wall for the future? Your safety and the safety of your homes is being put in jeopardy because of firstly the cuts they are making and secondly the poor management of the service by top officers.

"Mr. Edwards appears to want to go down in history as the man that Bermudianised the Police service. To those of us in the job, he will go down as the man of no decisions, of no support for his men, a people's Commissioner on the surface, a poor Commissioner underneath.'' The officer continues by criticising Mr. Edwards for showing further indecision by not filling the most senior Police posts.

But Mr. Edwards said only one senior post remained vacant -- Assistant Commissioner.

"I know why it hasn't been filled, but I don't care to discuss this publicly.

The powers that be are well aware of the reason.'' He admitted Parish constables had been hit, but cash constraints had forced him to shuffle manpower.

He added "civilianisation'' of the Police was being considered, although savings may not be that big.

Mr. Edwards said the officers working as carpenters, mechanics, and in the radio repair shop did an outstanding job, and were kept busy.

He stressed they could also be called out on a Police emergency.

"We are looking at replacing one of the Policemen in the recreation club with a civilian,'' he said.

Mr. Edwards said the Force had hoped to combine the two Police training schools. But again this would be costly.

Mr. Edwards went on to defend "Bermudianising'' the force, saying there had been no recruiting from abroad for more than 18 months.