JCF & JDF Snub INDECOM
June 10, 2020 | Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie |
“66% Of Suspects Killed By Police Were Unharmed”
As we burry George Floyd in Houston Texas, USA the role of police excesses is under the spotlight. There is a feeling it is Racism. The image from Buffalo of a 75 year old white Senior citizen being assaulted by heavily armed officers paints a picture of a systemic problem in police services worldwide. The two officers implicated have been charged for assault in this case. They were white as was the unfortunate victim now in hospital.
Derek Chauvin
You recall that 4 police officers have been charged for killing George Floyd. Derek Chauvin, ring leader is charged with manslaughter etc. He was captured with his knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. He died from suffocation.
INDECOM Quarterly Report
In Jamaica … “66 percent Of Unarmed Citizens Killed By Police In Jamaica …”. INDECOM
In the last quarterly report of INDECOM a number of breaches of the act of the oversight body is alarming. For example the Commissioner Terrence Williams has reported that JCF in particular refuse to cooperate with the oversight body. The leadership refuse to give support to get suspected officers comply with requests from INDECOM for say “informal” identification parades. Many cases have been affected as witnesses lose interest. This hampers justice. Some 10 ID parades over the last 2 years affected. “Unless INDECOM has the same powers as an investigation body it’s powers are illusionary.”
The DPP, JCF and INDECOM met, but still no compliance as agreed.
Body Worn Cameras
The failure of officers to wear body cameras robs the overseas body of an independent account of their conduct. The Americans withdrew body cameras donated to the police. The Americans have asked the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to return body Worn cameras given to them which were not used. It was said to be 150.
Commissioner Terrence Williams has said INDECOM will roll out their use of body cameras soon.
Powers Of Arrest
The investigative body is still unable to arrest offending officers. This hampers the work of the oversight body. It makes a mockery of the body.
Warning Of Criminal Charges
The INDECOM Commissioner warned the police that their failure to cooperate could lead to the filing of criminal charges against officers who breach the INDECOM Act. “We would prefer to dialogue and get cooperation by self compliance instead of strong external enforcement”. Terrence Williams.
Police Federation
The INDECOM Commissioner Terrence Williams has pointed his finger at the police Federation as a stumbling block to the work of the oversight body. Vision has reported this poor relationship or no love lost over the years. The powerful police union has taken INDECOM to court repeatedly trying to block the body from carrying out it oversight responsibility. They view this advocacy as protecting the interest of it’s members.
Police Unions
Shooting Unarmed Citizens or the use of excessive force by police, seems to be the pattern in the USA and elsewhere. In the UK police do not carry firearms as a rule.
Records show that 66 percent or 70 cases of those killed by police had no weapons, example guns etc. In short unharmed citizens are shot by police or Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) officers. Declared Deputy INDECOM Commissioner Hamish Campbell at the same quarterly press conference. For example the JDF killed forty 40) citizens in 2019. So far to date 2020 this figure is five (5).
Editorial Comment
It makes no sense to create a body like INDECOM that is like a toothless guard dog. A loud bark, but no teeth. This does not assist justice.
Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior National & International Correspondent for Vision Newspaper.
