(Jamaica Gleaner) Senior members of the police force have been given a kick in the butt by Police Commissioner Owen Ellington for their failure to do more to reduce the number of fatal shootings by cops.
While accepting that some of these fatal shootings are unavoidable, Ellington has argued that “the number of reported incidents involving use of force by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Island Special Constabulary Force is unnecessarily high and oftentimes unwarranted”.
According to Ellington, checks have revealed that when these controversial or unnecessary shootings occur, the sub-officer of the senior member “has often submitted statements or reports that seek to remove responsibility from them”.
But the commissioner said it has been proven that if the senior member had followed proper procedure, the fatal shootings might have been avoided.
“Against this background, greater responsibility will be placed on the subofficer or senior person responsible for briefing, debriefing, posting and/or dispatching of personnel who may have conducted himself contrary to this and other policies of the JCF,” warned Ellington in the Force Orders issued yesterday.
