KINGSTON, Jamaica— Chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, Sergeant Arleen McBean gave a fiery tribute during the thanksgiving service for Detective Sergeant Kevin Mayne at the Eastwood Park New Testament Church of God on Saturday.

McBean, made reference to a line in dancehall artiste Eddy G Bomba’s song ‘No Cap’ which says “Betta move wid you speeder gun, the beast a come; me will lick dung police a grung” when she charged members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force in attendance at the funeral to properly execute their training when they are targeted by criminals. She added that police will have the full backing of the federation in these instances.

“We are seeing videos being circulated where police officers are assaulted. We are hearing lyrics on the radio in different areas of society that speak to inciting violence against agents of the state and citizens of Jamaica.

“I have listened to one recently where there is an explanation about the “beast”, about the police with the speeder gun, but I can tell you colleagues, rank-and-file population, I encourage you, ensure that you stay alert, stay equipped. Look out for the beast, the dragon or the cow because I encourage you to execute your training well. You have the full backing of the police federation to do so,” McBean said.

She also urged the Government and Police Commissioner, Dr Kevin Blake to bolster the resources available to the police with drones as she believes this will assist with capturing criminals, and prevent similar incidents like the mass shooting in Cherry Tree Lane, Clarendon.

“I recently viewed the Jamaica 62 celebrations and I was in awe… However I saw 1,000 drones making the faces of Ms Lou, may her soul rest in peace, Bob Marley, may his soul rest in peace but what vividly come to my mind is that ‘can you imagine if the Jamaica Constabulary Force is equipped with 1,000 drones and the 19 geographical divisions get 50-50 each that is 950, plus you have 50 in reserve in the event of a Cherry Tree Lane incident?’” she questioned?

“No gunman, no guy, no boy would escape in nearby bushes because whilst we have the joint military patrols on the ground, we have our technology, Dr Blake, in the sky following them left, following them right, following them backward, following them forward. We capture pictures; we capture everything that is evidential. We need to help the police to police Jamaica,” McBean demanded.

In a more somber tone, the Federation Chairman called for protocols to be in place at hospitals, for police service members who are shot by criminals.

She recalled visiting the hospital following the July shooting which killed Detective Sergeant Mayne, stating that it was “painful” to see her colleague and the person who shot him on the same ward at the hospital.

Funeral program with a photo of deceased Detective Sergeant Kevin Mayne. (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

“As I stand here, I didn’t want to go there, but I remembered that fateful day after I concluded a meeting with the central committee. We got the call and we rushed to the Kingston Public Hospital and we realised on the left we saw our dearly departed colleague and on the right we saw another image. It is painful as a police federation when we go to hospitals and the man who just shot the police is on the same ward where the police is being treated,” McBean said.

Mayne was shot and killed at the Half-Way Tree Police Station in St Andrew on July 22, when a man who was being escorted from the court nearby grabbed a policeman’s gun and shot the Detective Sergeant, before turning the firearm on himself.

The man who pulled the trigger has been identified as Deon Singh, owner of Deon Singh Auto on Hagley Park Road in St Andrew.

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