Allegations that officers turned a blind eye while drugs were openly smoked at a Police social club party have been dismissed as "nonsense'' by the Island's top Policeman. Commissioner Jean Jacques Lemay dismissed the complaints exclusively to The Royal Gazette following a six-week long extensive internal Police investigation into claims that the club was used to hold a drugs party last November. Mr. Lemay did confirm that an on-duty officer was told that somebody was smoking drugs and he immediately ordered the offender to leave the party. He added that one marijuana cigarette butt was later discovered at the scene but there was no evidence whatsoever to indicate that officers turned a blind eye while numerous guests openly smoked drugs. And he stressed the function had been organised by civilians without the authority of the club committee. But he did add that several officers who agreed to act as bartenders and security staff for the unauthorised function would be spoken to. The club manager could also face disciplinary action. The investigation was ordered after The Royal Gazette reported claims from two independent guests who attended a party at the club on the evening of November 10 last year. "You could smell it as soon as you walked into the hall -- it was all very obvious,'' one witness said. "I don't know if any Police officers were smoking but there were certainly a lot there, although they didn't do anything about it.'' But, producing a Police dossier on the incident which included interviews with 16 witnesses, Mr. Lemay said it was untrue that officers knew drugs were being smoked and failed to act. "In this report the investigating officer has identified a number of issues that need to be addressed and formulated some recommendations to insure that this type of thing doesn't take place again,'' Commissioner Lemay said. "On November 10 there was a pre-Remembrance Day dance that was held at the Police Recreation Club. This involved a fashion show and then, after that there was a dance. It started at 11 p.m. and we know that it carried on until the early hours of November 11.

"This was not a Police-sponsored event but was organised by the club manager and a well known disc jockey who provided music for the event. It was advertised locally and was well attended. About 400 people attended the function as well as a number outside who could not be given access because the hall had reached its maximum capacity. "There were a number of off-duty officers for bar tendering and security and the DJ had made an arrangement to hire three people of his own for the security of the event. "It's not true that cannabis was smoked openly by any guests or that the club was being used to hold drugs parties. We do know that there was a cigarette butt found in the men's washroom that was later found to contain 0.02 grammes of cannabis.

There's evidence that a marijuana cigarette was smoked in the club but it's not true to say that it was smoked openly. "We know that at some time someone came up to one of our sergeants and complained about marijuana being smoked.

The sergeant was about to report for duty and saw all this activity and assumed there was a Police function. He went in and saw all this activity and then someone complained to him that people had been smoking marijuana. "The sergeant ordered the music to be stopped and then went up to the mike and ordered whoever was responsible to vacate the premises immediately. "I support wholeheartedly the decision that he took. We are dealing with about 400 people here and there's about 100 people outside and they had been consuming alcohol. "Given the time of day and the fact that people had been drinking it could have developed into a very unruly crowd. Then, after the party, once the hall was cleared one of our officers went in looking for evidence. "The crowd showed total disrespect to the premises, members of the club and police officials and we know that there were a number of improprieties in the manner that it was organised. "The issues associated in which the club manager managed and organised this event is a matter which I will take up personally with him but I cannot go into details. "This is a recreational club. We are not in the business of competing with down town or commercial facilities. It's a place for Police officers to bring their families, friends and associates for socialising. It is not a place for them to be subjected to abuse or criticism. "The club manager was told that only Police supported functions should be held at the club and this function was held without the authority of the Police Recreation Club committee.''