Take steps to restore trust in the police

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Dear Editor,

Many Jamaicans have expressed lack of confidence in our police force and I was impartial on the matter until an incident occurred which left a horrible taste in my mouth.

My younger brother, on his way home from a late class recently, was pounced upon from behind by a plainclothes policeman. When he retaliated, as he thought he was being robbed, the officer began to shout, “Police,” without identifying himself properly.

My brother then tried to get away from him and the man reached for his waist as if to get a weapon. Fearing the worst, my brother once again asked him loudly to identify himself. When other people started staring, the officer then reached for his badge, showed it and demanded to search my brother while verbally abusing him – using derogatory terms.

Many questions came to my mind after this incident. What was the reason for the search? Why wasn’t this information relayed? Where is the respect for the ordinary citizen? What is being done to train our officers properly? Are they just being sent out as “licensed gunmen”? What exactly would have happened hadn’t my brother asked questions? Would the policeman have brandished his weapon and assaulted him, or worse?

I believe every Jamaican has constitutional rights, regardless of age, sex or religion. Does it not say in the constitution “Once a member of the JCF is conducting stop and search, the person who is subjected to this activity must be made aware of the authority under which he or she is being stopped, searched and/or to make an account of himself/herself. Except with his own consent, no person shall be subject to the search of his person or his property.” This officer did not at any time during the altercation follow proper police protocol.

It saddens me to think we live in a generation where we fear our law enforcement officers more than criminal elements. It appears that the police care about only one thing: compliance. Do what they say, when they say, without question or you will suffer. They will see to that. The men and women so many people depend on to serve and protect them have become thugs whom we fear. And this fear is not irrational.

Let us be realistic, there is no quick fix to this problem, and getting to an amicable resolution will take time, money and effort, but I do believe it will be the best for all concerned. Proper training of candidates, actual laws governing their behaviour and enforcement of these laws are steps we need to take. We all need to know that our cries will not go unanswered and our innocent citizens assaulted without cause. Let us restore a nation’s trust in our police force. At least, let us try.

Triona Mills Kingston

trionamills@yahoo.com

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Take steps to restore trust in the police