Dear Editor,

There was a time when the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) represented discipline, professionalism, and public service. Growing up, I respected the police and saw the uniform as a symbol of authority that citizens could trust.

Today, I find myself increasingly concerned about the direction of policing in Jamaica. I recognise that policing is dangerous and that officers must have the equipment and training necessary to confront violent criminals. However, there appears to be an increasing militarisation of the force and, in some instances, conduct that resembles the very criminalistic culture the police are supposed to combat. The police cannot become indistinguishable from those they are sworn to protect us from.

The numbers surrounding police and security-force shootings should concern every Jamaican. Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) reported that 311 people were fatally shot by members of the security forces in 2025 — the highest figure recorded since 2010. Indecom also reported 105 security-force fatalities by April 2026, compared with 102 during the same period in 2025.

These numbers do not automatically mean that every shooting was unlawful. Police officers sometimes face genuine threats and must defend themselves. But when the State takes a person’s life, there must be transparency, evidence, and accountability.

This is why I strongly support the routine use of body-worn cameras during planned police operations. Indecom has repeatedly raised concerns about officers not using available cameras. In July 2025, the commission reported that 177 people had already been fatally shot by security forces that year and noted that body-worn cameras had not been used in the incidents it reviewed.

If an officer’s actions are lawful, the camera protects the officer. If they are unlawful, the camera protects the citizen. There should be no reason for either side to fear objective evidence.

Recruitment and psychological fitness also deserve serious attention. Psychological screening should be part of the recruitment process, followed by appropriate professional assessments and support throughout an officer’s career. This is not about labelling people with mental illness, it is about ensuring that people entrusted with weapons, authority, and the power to take away someone’s liberty possess the temperament, judgment, and emotional control required for such responsibility.

At the same time, Jamaica must strengthen Indecom and ensure that independent investigations have the resources and authority necessary to produce meaningful accountability. The 2026 murder charge against a police constable arising from the fatal shooting of Latoya Bulgin demonstrates why independent investigation matters. A charge is not a conviction, but allegations involving the use of lethal force must be investigated without fear or favour.

There is another reason this conversation is urgent. Jamaicans are experiencing significant economic pressures, including the cost of food, utilities, and other necessities. If frustration with economic conditions and government leadership eventually produces widespread demonstrations or civil unrest, the police will likely be placed on the front line. If public confidence in the police has already deteriorated, confrontation could become even more dangerous.

The answer cannot simply be stronger enforcement, it must be stronger professionalism, restraint, accountability, and respect for constitutional rights.

I want to make it clear that I do not believe all police officers are bad. Many officers serve honourably and put their lives at risk every day. Reform is not an attack on those officers; it is a way of protecting their reputation and strengthening the institution they serve.

Jamaica needs a police force that is firm against criminals, fair to citizens, professional in its conduct, and accountable under the law.

We should not wait until public trust has completely disappeared before we act. The time for meaningful reform of the JCF is now.

Marlon Richards

Clarendon, Jamaica

richards.marlon@yahoo.com