The pain and anguish of the police commissioner

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

We are told, nay assured, by our all-wise politicians that the conditions which existed on May 23, 2010 that justified the limited State of Emergency, no longer exist. Is that so?

The attacks on the State, as exemplified by the launch of open warfare on the security forces in May have, in our view, intensified, even if we don't see plumes of smoke bellowing from police stations.

In one week, three policemen have been gunned down and one shot and injured. Monday night's killing of Special Constable James Lemmie on Young Street in Spanish Town, St Catherine brings to nine the number of police officers to be murdered by criminals since the start of the year.

We guess that we need to see burning police stations now to convince us that the criminals are back in stride or that the lifting of the State of Emergency was premature and unwise.

We have never argued that the State of Emergency is the perfect crime-fighting plan. But we understand the need to use it to dismantle the criminal forces and their network, to give us the psychological space to ensure they never regain their pre-May 23 strength.

Perhaps now we might begin to see the real reason the heads of the security forces, and especially Police Commissioner Owen Ellington requested the extension of the State of Emergency for another month.

They know what it is to send young men, like the 22-year-old Special Constable Lemmie, to face cold-hearted gunmen..and risk death. They have to give the orders to these men and women under their command to face down the criminals, in order that the rest of us can feel some sense of safety and security. Have we no feeling for them? Is power politics so sweet?

For our part, we would like to assure Commissioner Ellington that we identify with his pain. We also believe him when he says:

"Our intelligence and the actions of criminals over the last week indicate calculated assaults on police personnel as we continue to disrupt and displace criminal gangs across the island."

We sense that Mr Ellington's appeal to the Police Control Centre to broadcast security reminders to all police personnel on a regular basis, in order to keep members alert, is a cry of pain and anguish from a man who must feel he has been given basket to carry water and then, even after that, wantonly abandoned by the leaders of our land.

Minister of National Security Dwight Nelson, in decrying the killing of three policemen in five days as "a deliberate and vicious assault on the agents of the state who are duty bound to risk their lives to protect the people of Jamaica", is not by itself going to bring consolation.

Does he need us to remind him that his Government has the power to do what is right by the security forces and the people of Jamaica?

POST A COMMENT

You must first register and then login to be able to post a comment.

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, and before commenting you need to register, conveniently, by clicking the link above.

COMMENTS (24)

Phillip black
8/14/2010

This guy bertram is a mascot .It seems like he is a part of the country problem.He should be a member of the JFJ.

Phillip black
8/14/2010

These politicians have no intention of protecting the people.Thy are part of the problem with security of the country.At this time the security of the country should be handed over to the Army and the Force .Just the physical let the politicians stay in office and do what they do best(,NOTHING)The security decide what goes when ,they dont have to report to no politician.they are in charge of the security of the country.

Michael Watson
8/6/2010

The Security Minister needs to do a lot more.Merely denouncing the killing of Police Officers is not good enough.

george watson
8/4/2010

Jacqueline Samms, are you saying tht you are tired of the policeman?

george watson
8/4/2010

What has a SOE got to do with the killing of the cops? How could it have hindered them? If what happened in O/R could happen in the open, under the eyes of citizens, albeit compliant with the killing, what might have we expected in a SOE behind closed doors?.
All it takes is for the cops to do their jobs as they are paid to do. When NY City was cleaned up it was not done during any SOE, but just a zero tolerance against crime, something our politicians and politicians are not prepared to do

Jacqueline Samms
8/4/2010

Free the cops, this man was a murderer we are tired of them

Jaye Stone
8/4/2010

Oh, the pain and anguish of the commissioner! This one video has embarassed him and has compromised the force. Anyone who believes this is either very stupid or real crazy. Extra-judiciary killings have been going on for so many years, and no commissioner thought it was important to have the citizens' claims thoroughly investigated. No one went under cover to see if the cops were following procedure, for no one was in a hurry to stop the murders. Why act all surprised and contrite now?

N Manley Blythe
8/4/2010

Mr Editor, while I support the SOE for the short term, and am dissapointed that it was prematurely ended, I am more concerned with the long-term plans going forward in this war on crime.
The Prime Minister made a PLEDGE to dismantle garrisons, crush gangs, and implement social intervention strategies to enable youths of inner-city communities to become productive. What of this PLEDGE? What is the plan? Are garrisons being dismantled? What are the plans of the PLEDGE going forwards?

howie J
8/4/2010

Editor, we need a combination of solutions all at the same time. We need to listen to and support the expert, the commissioner, who was entrusted with the task to protect and service and we also need community social programs and the human rights groups to keep the police from excesses. The people of Jamaica must also be made to understand that government is a force.

Rob C
8/4/2010

@ Duncan ..... You & which army ?

Rovert Sirrah
8/4/2010

Mr Editor sir , may I ask who do you deem to be "the right thing" .Am I sensing that you are calling for another SOE. Is that the only solution sir ? You need to come up with something long term and effective.A SOE was meant to be used as a short term measure in case of emergency. Come on Mr Editor , put on your thinking cap and stop looking for the easy way out. We need more well trained police who are capable to do intelligence driven policing and not police who depend on thr GUN , Sir.

John Smith
8/4/2010

Truth be told corruption within the JCF has emboldened criminals who see police officers as nothing more then gunmen in uniforms. The Editor argues that a SoE is not a sustainable crime fighting tool yet seems to advocate its use to fight these criminal acts. Re-imposition of a SoE will only delay the inevitability of this upsurge & apparent revenge killings. The police need to double down & do the effective acts they did during the SoE - they have the powers to do so - & do so with a vengance.

Froggy D
8/4/2010

The state of emergency is not the cure. I think the Editor knows this scream all he wants, but until we have a comprehensive plan to fight crime and to prevent it, no state of emervency is going to help us. You think the criminals are not aware of what happens in our society, or do you believe they are just mindless dodo heads? Some of these men are very successful, go further than west Kingston. And, a lot of them are aided. How is a state of emergency is going to help. We can do without it.

christopher Isaacs
8/4/2010

Having not had the extension of the SOE is no reason for the police to lose it's intensity, to do so is to say that the 5 new crime bills are impotent at best to solve crime. To introduce a new SOE will be counterproductive at this time. The extention would have been ideal but a reintroduction would seem defeatist. Let us now talk about reintroduction of hanging, many of those committing the murders do not believe that this law still exists as since they were born no one has been hung.

Duncan Bertram
8/4/2010

Anyone of my sibling or child is harmed by the police, I am taking revenge. And it would be worst than the state of emergency, it would be a state of demolition, total destruction in jamaica. Police life is not more important than mine. When an innocent life is taken by police, that police must be hanged. If there is no equal rights and justice there will be (as Spencer said) everlasting war. We as a country need to revisit the years of police abuse and render justice. Higher standards for cops.

Mark Forbes
8/4/2010

Mr Editor, why are you wasting so much ink on what has to be a short term tactic. The Constitution does not support a permanent SOE.Ja did not reach to this level of crime overnight so we cannot think in the short term. Guantanamo-izing the lower classes just won't do it. What are the long term plans that you would support?

mike daley
8/4/2010

After the end of ANY SOE there will always be an up tick in violence whether it's against the general public or members of the security force. The opportunity to reel in in crime is still with us. Obsession about the darn SOE is hamstringing necessary change in laws & other anti-crime tools at our disposal. Ever hear the saying that there is more than one way to skin a cat? Please! Committed and competent people don't just criticize they find creative solutions in the face of challenge.

Rob C
8/4/2010

What's going on with the outbreak of mosquitos ?? Is the opposition still championing this most urgent cause ??

Alvin L.
8/4/2010

The security forces will be threatened and hurt until the follitricks of both the JLP and the PNP ends or the unthinkable " a politician " is muderered by one of the politically coddled gunmen in Jamaica.
It is imperative that both parties stop messing around and learn to march in lockstep to make the Country and it's Citizens safe!
Mr Commisioner please keep the forces cognizant of the dangers ahead and the feet of the politicians to the fire!!!

Duncan Bertram
8/4/2010

When police kill over 70 people and we have no proof they were criminals, why bawl when police get killed? Whats the difference between a police life and an innocent tivoli garden youth's life? None.
Stop kill the people and the people will stop killing you. It does not take a rocket scientist to know humans want equal rights for all

Joe Robinson
8/4/2010

No one in there rightful mind would believe that we could use the SOE to fight crime on a long term basis. The measures of extending the SOE were simple to be used to contain the vicious monster of crime. The commissioner must have had enough intelligence to request an extension. To deny the security forces request has shown that we have no confidence in them. What hypocrisy.The govt. must do the right thing, call a SOE and save Ja. stop listening to those people who has no interest in Ja.

calvin graham
8/4/2010

Again I say that the decent law abiding citizens of Jamaica are being left behind by power hungry politicians who seem to think that without a vote they cant survive until( and I am not hoping for this) but until it hits closer to home (JFJ)people will not stop being selfish and think oh!its not me so to hell with it. Let them do as they please.

Stephen Fox
8/4/2010

Editor, by indicating that the State is under attack you also imply that we are at war. Who are we at war with? The youth of the inner city who have little or no job prospects? Is there any identifiable leader? Perhaps we are lucky that the police face an amorphous blob. Maybe we are war with an organized crime network who can only thrive in an environment of near anarchy. Meanwhile civil society lives in fear and the security forces are undermanned. Who can is responsible? When will it be fix?

Chuck Emanuel
8/4/2010

Mr Editor, too much talk shops. People must be held accountable, and one does not have to wait for an election to call a spade a spade.
The solution to any problem must be rooted firstly in an accurate assessment of the nature of the problem, its root causes and what is necessary to solve it.
The U.S. gave the Government an extradition order and was prepared to hold them accountable. What happened ?. The wiggled and waffled, but they could not waver. I am afraid Mr Editor, you are wavering !.

Do you feel buying into Facebook now is a good investment for the long-run?
	Yes
	No

View Results
Results published weekly in Sunday Finance

Username:
Password:

GCT to go down, white rum prices going up

The pain and anguish of the police commissioner