THE four policemen who braved their way through an angry crowd to save three alleged homosexuals from a possible beating are now being criticised by the local gay rights group, the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All Sexuals and Gays (J-Flag).

The group claimed the cops taunted the three men with anti-gay epithets after the dramatic rescue, and has called for the intervention of the police commissioner and the public defender in the matter.

Police, in rescuing the men, had to fire tear gas to disperse the large crowd that had gathered outside a pharmacy in Tropical Plaza where the three were holed up for almost an hour.

“The police did eventually help the three men and the peacemaker but only after beating him with their guns and fists and calling him a homosexual,” said a J-Flag statement on Thursday. “While in the vehicle, all the way to the police station the men were taunted by the police with anti-gay epithets,” the group alleged.

The group also claimed that the alleged gay men were further taunted when they arrived at the Half-Way-Tree Police Station by other cops who warned them never to return to the area.

But commanding officer for the St Andrew Central police, Superintendent George Quallo, has questioned the J-Flag claim. Quallo was dismayed that even though the officers put themselves at great risk and fired tear gas into the large mob, they were still being criticised.

“Would the police do all of this and then turn around and abuse them?” Quallo asked. “I find that rather strange. A number of cops are annoyed that these people would turn around and accuse them of abuse.”

A woman who claimed to be an eyewitness to Wednesday’s drama told the Observer that attention was drawn to the three men after they were observed behaving in a ‘distasteful manner’ inside the Monarch Pharmacy. She said a woman who was inside the pharmacy reprimanded the alleged gay men about their behaviour, but was allegedly doused with liquid. She then left the store and made an alarm. Soon a large crowd converged on the pharmacy, calling for the alleged homosexuals to be let out.

The threatening crowd forced the store management to lock the men inside and wait for the arrival of the police. The three were rescued by police who resorted to firing tear gas canisters in the crowd.

International gay rights groups have criticised Jamaica as a homophobic society that holds homosexuals in low esteem. The groups have constantly criticised dancehall music for gay bashing and have accused the local police of treating gays in a sub-human manner and aiding in their persecution.

However, despite claims by the gay community that homosexuals are killed because of their sexual orientation, police blotters indicate that most murders where gay men are the victims are carried out by other gays, and have been described as crimes of passion.