There can be no argument that police work in Jamaica is very difficult and extremely dangerous. Those harbouring doubts should contemplate the murder of two policemen — Corporal Oliver Mullings and Constable Brian Martin — in sections of downtown Kingston over the past two weeks.

We well recall in 2009 then Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green pointing to the extraordinary difficulties for police operating in Jamaica’s urban shanty towns and in some rural areas. Nothing in his native Britain had prepared him for the narrow, zinc fence lanes and treacherous gully bank trails of many Jamaican inner-city communities.

Indeed, many Jamaicans have no real inkling of the threat facing security forces personnel on a daily basis.

We can only join National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang in commending the men and women of the security forces “for their continued [dedication] and courage in fighting some very heinous and brutal criminals out there”.

We could add that low pay and poor working conditions only make their jobs that much more testing.

Yet, despite the difficulties and challenges, the security forces are required to conduct themselves professionally and in absolute accordance with the law.

That means that, even when dealing with those they suspect or believe to be dangerous criminals, the police are expected to use lethal force only as a last resort.

Hence our extreme concern at reports from the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) that, up to last Monday, there had been 19 recorded killings said to have been carried out by the security forces since the start of October. As we understand it, over recent days there have been two more such killings.

Available figures suggest 117 killings by the security forces since the start of 2022. The 19 recorded by Indecom up to Monday are four more than for any other month so far this year, we are told.

We note the assurance from Indecom that it is actively investigating the various incidents.

For sure, many Jamaicans would have been extremely disturbed by a video circulated far and wide — captured on an onlooker’s smartphone — apparently showing the death of 24-year-old Mr Towain Morrison in Nain, St Elizabeth.

In its most recent statement, Indecom again urges the use of body-worn cameras to assist investigations and case reviews “especially where lethal force is used”.

Just as importantly, we believe, and as has been recommended by Indecom previously, there is need for our security forces to be properly equipped with non-lethal weapons. That’s to facilitate subduing of alleged wrongdoers by security forces personnel without resort to the gun.

If, in fact, our security forces are equipped with appropriate non-lethal equipment and are choosing not to use it, there is clear need for retraining and re-socialisation.

The continuing strong perception, that some among our security forces personnel are uncaring, brutal, and murderous hurts the crime-fighting effort. Of that we have no doubt.

We suspect that even those who will condemn a criminal suspect as “wicked, him fi dead”, will still look askance at a police officer alleged to have unjustifiably taken his life.

Ultimately, those sworn to uphold the law and to serve and protect, must do so unconditionally, with might and main.