It is good news that the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force has submitted its report on the police shooting that preceded the December death of Virgin Islands prison escapee Santo Yamarco Hernandez.

Now the document should be released to the public straightaway.

Governor Gus Jaspert last week promised transparency, explaining that information from the report would be provided after “due procedural and legal processes to ensure that the findings of the investigation are correctly considered.”

He did not specify a timeline, but maintained that the information would come “as soon as it is legally and logistically possible.”

We are glad to hear these promises, and hope that action follows soon. Moreover, we see no reason why the full report shouldn’t be released to the public, rather than just select information from it.

Besides the victim’s family, the entire public needs to know the full story of what led to Mr. Hernandez’s death.

Many questions remain outstanding. Why, for example, were shots fired? Was Mr. Hernandez threatening officers with deadly force? Was he armed? Did he die as a direct result of gunshot wounds? Did police follow proper protocol?

Police — who inexplicably still have not even confirmed whether Mr. Hernandez was actually shot — also need to explain whether or not any action will be taken against the officers involved in the incident should they be found to have been negligent. In December, police said they were still on duty, but wouldn’t say if they still carry guns.
Such questions should have been answered long ago.

Police also need to explain any measures that are being taken to prevent future shootings.

Thankfully, such incidents are rare here, but in a time when more weapons are on the street, protocols and training need to be strengthened for the protection of police officers and the public alike.

Full transparency is necessary in order to reassure community members of their safety around armed police officers.