Cops under probe for missing guns
AUTHORITIES are now investigating the disappearance of two illegal firearms from last Friday’s haul of seven in Central Kingston, sources told the Observer.
A highly-placed source in the constabulary also told the Observer that Flying Squad head, Superintendent Cornwall ‘Bigga’ Ford, has sent a report to Police Commissioner Francis Forbes with a recommendation that the 27 policemen who participated in the operation be suspended.
Ford, however, declined to comment on the matter yesterday..
“I have no comment, you have to talk to the CCN (Constabulary Communication Network) or the commissioner on those issues,” he said.
Superintendent James Forbes, who heads the CCN, could not say whether any action had been taken against the policemen who participated in the raid.
“I cannot confirm that,” Forbes said.
Last Friday, Flying Squad police displayed five guns, 336 rounds of ammunition and nine magazines to the media which they said they found during an operation in Central Kingston.
The guns — two Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistols, a Ruger pistol, a Heckler and Koch revolver and a colt MV45 pistol — along with the ammunition and a small quantity of ganja were found by the cops, accompanied by a number of soldiers, at the St Michael’s Primary and Junior High School.
However, yesterday, the Observer learnt that the law enforcement team had actually found seven guns, but two disappeared between the time of seizure and when they were taken to Flying Squad headquarters at East Queen Street, downtown Kingston.
An investigation was opened into the matter and one of the guns was eventually turned in at the weekend, the Observer was told.
In addition to Flying Squad police, the team included cops from the Caribbean Search Centre, a facility that gives specialised training in the art of searching for firearms and other contraband.
Last week, allegations of corruption inside the ranks of the Reneto Adams-led Crime Management Unit surfaced. A few days later, the police top brass announced that all special squads would be placed under the command of Assistant Commissioner of Police Arthur “Stitch” Martin of the Mobile Reserve.