Dear Editor,

In recent days, a narrative has emerged that raises a deeper and more important national issue, not just about one traffic stop in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, but about how we, as a society, view policing, political influence, and accountability.

Let us be clear from the outset: The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is not perfect, but it is evolving. And part of that evolution is the firm and deliberate shift away from political interference in law enforcement. Member of Parliament (MP) Zuleika Jess’s public commentary, while framed as a call-out of alleged misconduct, risks reopening a door that Jamaica has been working hard to close: The dangerous perception that political status should influence police action. Those days must remain behind us.

There was a time in this country when a phone call from an MP or higher authority could make problems disappear; a time when enforcement could be softened, redirected, or quietly dismissed; a time when even leadership appointments within specialised units, including entities like the Crime Management Unit (CMU), were influenced outside of proper policing structures. Those days are gone, and they must never return.

Today, the expectation is simple: Policing must be done without fear or favour.

What transpired in Santa Cruz, when stripped of emotion and examined through facts, reflects law enforcement responding to observed breaches. Whether it involved documentation issues, seat belt compliance, or the use of a mobile phone while driving, these are matters squarely within the remit of the police.

If there are concerns about tone, professionalism, or conduct, those are valid matters for review. No officer should operate outside the standards of respect and professionalism expected by the JCF. But addressing those concerns must be done responsibly, not through public narratives that seem to suggest bias, political targeting, or systemic misconduct without full and balanced evidence.

We must also be careful not to assign motive based on perceived political affiliations of officers or their relatives. That line of reasoning is not only speculative, it is corrosive. It undermines trust in the very institutions we depend on for fairness and justice.

Importantly, it is widely known within the policing space that the officer referenced is someone with a strong, uncompromising approach to enforcement, having transitioned from municipal policing into the JCF. That style may be firm, even uncomfortable at times, but firmness alone is not evidence of political bias.

As leaders, MPs carry a higher responsibility — not just to advocate, but to model accountability and reinforce public confidence in national institutions. This moment calls for reflection, not escalation.

Because the truth is this: Jamaica cannot afford to return to an era when policing is perceived to be influenced by politics. We must protect the progress that has been made. We must support the many hard-working, professional policemen and women across the island, including those serving in Santa Cruz, my hometown, who put their lives on the line daily to maintain order and uphold the law.

And we must be honest enough to say that accountability does not begin with the police alone; it begins with all of us, especially those in leadership.

MP Jess, this is not about silencing concerns, it is about ensuring that in raising them we do not inadvertently weaken the very institutions we are duty-bound to strengthen, because, at the end of the day, the standard must remain.

No one is above the law, and no office should ever be used, directly or indirectly, to suggest otherwise.

Christopher McCurdy

kristophe60@hotmail