INDECOM probing fatal shooting at the Olympic Gardens Police Station
April 20, 2016 – The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has launched an investigation into the fatal shooting of a civilian in the vicinity of the Olympic Gardens Police Station at approximately 6 a.m. on April 20, 2016.
The deceased man has been identified as 23 year old Odane Bennett of Hill Avenue, Kingston 11. Initial information received by investigators confirmed that Bennett was of unsound mind and had been treated at the University Hospital and the Kingston Public Hospital for mental health problems in the past.
Police Report
The report received by INDECOM from the police is that a police officer was in a service vehicle parked outside the police station when a man (Bennett) allegedly relieved him of an M16 rifle and ran into a public passenger vehicle. It was reported that after he boarded the vehicle he was confronted by the same police officer and was shot and injured. He was later taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
A team from INDECOM attended and processed the incident scene and the body of the deceased. Civilian and security force witnesses were interviewed. The concerned officers were served with Notices to furnish INDECOM with an account of the incident. The firearm of the concerned officer was taken out of circulation and packaged and will be transported to the Government Forensic Laboratory.
Seeking Public Cooperation
The Commission is asking anyone who may have witnessed or can provide any information about the incident to call its Kingston officer at 1.876.968.1932, or call our mobile number at 1.876.878.0167. Persons are also encouraged to call our new Toll Free Lines: 1.888.991.5555 or 1.888.935.5550.
Commentary
This incident with the release attached from INDECON speaks volumes of the level of brutality if not criminality which seem to be deep rooted in the psyche of the Security forces.
Based on reports from relatives and other witnesses this fatal shooting should not have occurred. It has been alleged and confirmed by police that an officer was relieved of his M16 assault rifle. The suspect who is accused of the theft was of unsound mind … who ran into a passing minivan as a passanger. The police officer chased the minivan with passengers aboard and shot the mentally ill suspect fatally.
Another report is the police officer was allegedly asleep in his patrol car close to the Olympic Gardens Police Station when he was relieved of his M16 assault rifle/weapon.
INDECOM is probing the incident as occurs after all incidents involving any weapons used by the Security Forces in any planned or unplanned operations especially if a fatality occurs.
INDECOM has been stressing that less lethal force needs to be used by security force individuals and or teams.
Reports are …
A police officer attached to the Olympic Gardens Police Station … PM Holness’ Constituency was rocked by a heinous crime. A Mentally ill man known to the Cops was murdered by the police themself.
Hickling a psychiatrist said “This should not have happened … a report should have been made … the matter could have ended peacefully” (not verbatim)
Vision is saddened at the apparent trigger happy inclination of the POLICE. INDECOM is investigating this unfortunate fatal shooting.
Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.
