They are often stationed at major intersections throughout the capital. Sometimes you'll see them walking the beat in commercial districts. Their mandate is to maintain order in public spaces - markets, parks, etc. But we would strongly advise you to avoid them if you wish to go about your lawful business without being beaten and hauled off to jail. And you don't have to break any law for that to befall you.

We are talking here about the members of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF), more commonly known as 'blue seams' or 'specials' who, it seems, have been afflicted by some special form of dementia that commands them to maim people.

For what else could explain their latest act of lunacy in downtown Kingston Monday?

As was reported in yesterday's edition of the Daily Observer, a group of 'specials' beat two women sergeants from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), breaking a finger of one of the women.

This act of barbarity, we are told, was triggered by a claim by one of the 'blue seams' that he was almost bounced by the car being driven by one of the women cops. Ironically, the woman cop had stopped the unmarked police vehicle to allow the 'specials' - about 14 of them - to cross a street.

The offended 'special' demanded the papers for the vehicle, held on to the driver, and even after her colleague alighted from the vehicle and informed the 'special' that they were cops, he allegedly assaulted her - punched her in the mouth, handcuffed her and said that he would charge them with police impersonation.

It gets worse. After the women cops were taken to the City Centre Police Station, one of the 'specials' was said to have pulled his service revolver to prevent an executive member of the Police Federation from unlocking the handcuffs.

We would have thought that after that ugly beating of Mrs Margaret Berry in Half-Way-Tree on May 10 by ISCF members, the ISCF high command would have warned its troops against engaging in any similar incidents.
Apparently that has not been done.

We had also hoped that the ISCF leadership would have, by now, assured the public that the beating of Mrs Berry was a one-off blunder. But obviously, we expected too much of them.

We shudder to think what would have happened on Monday had the two abused women not been cops. More than likely they would have been thrown in jail on trumped-up charges.

Two weeks ago we asked whether the ISCF is an auxiliary or parallel force to the JCF. Our question was based on what we sense was a new pattern inside the ISCF to challenge its stated role as a supporting agency allied with a growing fervour for aggression and disregard for the rights of citizens.
For we fully well recall their role in the events that triggered a mini riot in Brown's Town, St Ann, as well as their confrontation with businesses in downtown Kingston some time ago.

It is time, we believe, that Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas summons the ISCF leadership and reads them the riot act. For Mr Thomas and his team cannot allow the asinine actions of a few to erode the gains the JCF has made in gaining the respect and confidence of the public.

By the way, what has happened to the promised investigation into the beating of Mrs Berry?

The Audacity of Art

Marjorie Whylie to receive Stella Gregory Award

Traditional Thanksgiving offerings at EVITAS