Shame & pride: Cop arrested by colleagues in arms find

Cop arrested by colleagues in massive arms find

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, February 05, 2010

A police sergeant was among 11 persons detained following yesterday's seizure of 19 high-powered weapons and close to 10,000 rounds of ammunition at a house in East Kingston.

But amidst the shock and shame that the sergeant's arrest brought on the constabulary, police also felt a sense of pride that his plea for his colleagues not to arrest him was ignored by the five cops who smashed what was obviously a large gun-running operation.

The guns and ammunition were allegedly stolen from the police armoury and were evidently to be sold to criminals.

As a result of the early-morning bust on Munster Road, off Mountain View Avenue, Acting Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington ordered the immediate closure of the police armoury and stores.

Ellington also ordered that all the members of the armoury and stores -- police and civilians alike -- be interviewed and undergo polygraph tests by investigators from the Anti-Corruption Branch.

"As of now, the police armoury and police stores are considered crime scenes. I am taking this action because of the possible involvement of police personnel in the unlawful removal and possible sale of the weapons seized this morning [yesterday] to criminal elements," Ellington said in a release.

In addition, a complete administrative and security audit will be immediately done of both the armoury and stores by the Inspectorate of the constabulary, said Ellington who also suspended the sergeant.

Police yesterday said the guns and ammunition were seized after a routine patrol by members of the Kingston East Police division noticed persons acting suspiciously on Munster Road. This led to a search of a house and vehicles parked on the premises.

According to the police, the haul included several M-16 rifles, shotguns, Uzi sub-machine guns, pistols, revolvers and police ballistic vests.

Cops said approximately 9,600 - 9,700 rounds were found on premises on Munster Road and another 600 on premises located on Mountain View Avenue.

They said initial information suggested that the premises on Mountain View Avenue is the business place of the owner of the house on Munster Road.

Yesterday, at the scene of the find, scores of residents looked on in shock and spoke in hushed tones as police from several departments rushed into the community to search houses and question residents.

Residents said they were not aware that such activities were taking place in their community.

One woman who declined to give her name told the Observer that she woke up at 6:00 am to see cops carrying out their operations in the area.

"A from about 6:00 in the morning me wake up and come out come see more than 100 police a run up and down and a search all over the place. I nearly wet myself," the woman said.

As she spoke, police began to remove furniture and other items from the house where the guns were found.

"Jesus, a wha kind a stress this on the area!" cried one woman with her hands on her head.

As she spoke, another woman was overheard questioning a group of cops about the fate of a group of children who were left behind after their family members were detained by the police.

Meanwhile, Ellington praised the work of the police from the Kingston East Police Division and the quick response from other police formations in organising the co-ordinated operations.

"While I am extremely concerned with the events of this morning and the possible implications on the police force, I am heartened and extremely proud of police personnel who responded quickly and without fear or favour in finding the guns and ammunition and arresting one of their own who might be unlawfully implicated. I commend these officers, who represent the good within the JCF," he said.

According to the police, the gun find was the second reported by the police over the last 24 hours as, subsequent to the seizure on Munster Road, cops said a number of co-ordinated operations were conducted in the St Andrew South and the St Andrew North Police divisions. One of these operations led to the seizure of another firearm and some 200 rounds of ammunition.

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Shame & pride: Cop arrested by colleagues in arms find