* 22 complaints made so far in 2012* No convictions in the 25 cases last yearBy Sam StrangewaysThe number of complaints made about police misconduct this year has already nearly reached the total for all of 2011.There were 22 complaints made to the Police Conduct Unit in the first six months of 2012, compared to 25 for the whole of last year.Deputy Police Commissioner Mike Jackman, who is responsible for Bermuda Police Service’s Professional Conduct Department, shared the figures in response to questions from The Royal Gazette.Asked if any of the complaints made against officers last year were upheld, he said: “There were no convictions against any officers for any disciplinary matters relating from civilian complaints.“There were three informal resolutions conducted, that led to the matters being resolved. Two officers were given performance reports.”Mr Jackman explained that all complaints made by members of the public to the Professional Conduct Unit were copied to the independent Police Complaints Authority (PCA).He said all complaints made to the unit got investigated by the PCA once BPS had conducted its internal inquiry.But, as revealed by this newspaper on Friday, some aggrieved members of the public say they have never had an acknowledgment of their complaint from the PCA, let alone a resolution, after months of waiting.And Mr Jackman revealed the board’s backlog of complaints dates back as far as 2008.The board is run by volunteers, with an annual budget of $20,000 from the Ministry of National Security and a part-time administrative assistant.Mr Jackman said of the 22 complaints made about officers this year, 12 were still being investigated by the Professional Conduct Unit and nine were investigated and passed to the PCA, which has yet to resolve them.The PCA, which meets monthly, has closed one case this year.The Deputy Commissioner also disclosed that:* Of the 25 complaints made in 2011, police are still investigating three, six have been passed to the PCA and 16 have been closed by the PCA.* In 2010, 54 complaints were made about the conduct of police officers and the Professional Conduct Unit is still investigating two of them. Four others have been passed to the PCA and have yet to be resolved and 48 have been closed by the PCA.* In 2009, there were 44 complaints made. The PCA has closed 41 and is still handling the other three.* In 2008, there were 23 complaints. The PCA has closed 21 but has yet to resolve the other two after four years.Mr Jackman said most complaints submitted to the Professional Conduct Unit were completed within two months.He said the Police Commissioner was required in law to report to the PCA within two months of a complaint being made and verbal reports were given to the board at every quarterly meeting.The senior officer would not answer a question about a policeman who was referred to in the last annual report of the PCA as having been the subject of “numerous complaints for over a decade”.The PCA did not name the officer, who remains a serving member of Bermuda Police Service. Mr Jackman said: “The BPS does not comment publicly on individual discipline matters.”He also wouldn’t comment on whether he believed the public understood the process for complaining about police or whether the PCA had a high enough public profile.“The responsibility for complaints made by members of the public about police officer or the police service is the responsibility of the PCA,” he said.In its annual report, tabled in February, the PCA said 540 complaints were filed with the board between 2000 and 2010. The highest number was 69, in 2000. The lowest was 24, in 2008.This newspaper asked the PCA a series of questions about its current caseload last week but has yet to receive answers.Acting chairman Will Francis said on Friday the board was due to meet tomorrow (Tuesday, July 10) and a response would probably be forthcoming later in the week.Useful website: www.bps.bm