Tuesday, April 29, 2025 is shaping up to be an interesting day. It is the day that Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) plans to host its ‘End Police Violence Protest’, aimed at shedding light on the persistent issue of police violence in Jamaica.

JFJ has encouraged protestors to wear black.

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has, in a social media post, declared April 29, 2025 ‘Blue Day… We back the blue… We back the JCF… Wear Blue’.

It is a sad day when the response to a legitimate call from a human rights advocacy group for greater transparency and accountability in police operations is a call from the police for a public display of backing from citizens.

I support the JCF, they have a very difficult and dangerous task as they endeavour to serve and protect the public.

I support JFJ in their endeavour to bring to attention the issue of the alarming increase in police fatal shootings. I note some of the commentary from individuals — some in high places whose rhetoric is to label JFJ as “anti-police”, “terrorists”, and “pro-criminals”. They know better, and they know that such views are self-serving, untrue, and potentially dangerous. Jamaicans need not be divided into two camps — those who support JFJ and those who support the JCF.

Both entities can and ought to be supported in all their lawful and just undertakings. Whatever defect we find in either organisation should and must be subjected to scrutiny and criticism, and without rancour. That is one of the distinguishing characters of civilised behaviour.

Stripped of all the rhetoric surrounding increased numbers of police fatal shootings we find the centre of gravity of the issue — accountability. We want to trust our police and the things they do in our name, but we also want to verify what we are being told. This principle applies not only to the police but to every other public or private entity and their various stakeholders.

We have set up the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) to undertake investigations concerning actions by members of the Security Forces and other Agents of the State that result in death or injury to individuals or the abuse of the rights of individuals.

If we had 500 police fatal shootings and Indecom, after rigorous investigations and using all the tools, determines that the police’s actions were justified, I have no problem. We do not send our police officers into harm’s way to be fodder for criminals.

We do expect, however, that our police officers will be professional and act in accordance with the law and their own Human Rights and Use of Force Policy, at all times. Where any member of the JCF acts contrary to laws and policies, he/she has acted criminally and should be held to account.

The problem Indecom faces is the lack of a video footage that could be obtained if police officers were wearing and using body-worn cameras. There are far too many cases in which Indecom cannot make a determination of the veracity or otherwise of police actions.

Indecom and others have repeatedly called for the police to be equipped and to use body-worn cameras. This issue has been languishing within the corridors of power for over 10 years and I have concluded that there is no appetite to make this happen any time soon. The question is: Why? Why have we continued to deny Indecom, and indeed the JCF itself, critical information that can be obtained from body-worn cameras to assist the various investigators in their work? Further delays can only fuel speculation, conspiracy theories, and distrust.

This is where we are, and this is the crux of JFJ’s issue with the JCF’s operations. I support the JCF and I support JFJ, and on Tuesday April 29, 2025, I shall wear maroon.

Sir Robert Peel, who became known as the father of modern policing, states: “The ability of the police to fight crime effectively continues to depend on the public’s perceptions of the legitimacy of the actions of police officers.”

Rear Admiral (ret’d) Hardley Lewin is presently a consultant. He has 36 years of military service in the Jamaica Defence Force, the last five and a half as the chief of staff, and commissioner of police, Jamaica Constabulary Force, from December 2007 to November 2009. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or hmclewin@gmail.com

Rear Admiral (ret’d) Hardley Lewin