As we continue to observe members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force display lax attitudes in the way they approach and apprehend suspects at the peril of their own lives , we continue to offer advise to members who interact with the public most frequently. That usually falls on the junior officers.
Everything about this reeks “wrong”
We also try to educate and inform the public on it’s rights and responsibilities when dealing with police officers. Since it appears there is a crisis of leadership both at the junior and senior management levels of the JCF, we will continue to offer these tips with a view to helping officers understand that in order for them to protect others they must first learn to protect themselves. Additionally it is important as well, that we continue to advise and educate the public to it’s responsibilities in this arrangement between itself and law enforcement.
This type of traffic stop is almost cartoon-like in it’s outdated and dangerous approach.
Conduct professional, safe traffic stops.
Remember your training. No traffic stop is routine. When conducting a stop, consider when and where to initiate the stop and the best location for the driver to stop.
Notify the dispatcher. Make sure that the dispatcher knows your location and the stopped vehicle’s license, make and model before making contact with the driver.
Create a safety lane for yourself. Be sure to offset your vehicle behind the stopped vehicle to create a safety lane. Turn tires out and consider a passenger side approach to contact the driver.
Communication is critical. Remember that the first words spoken by an officer may very well determine the tone of the encounter and even the eventual outcome. Similarly, the last words are also very important and may be the basis of a lasting impression of the officer and agency.
Stops at night or low light conditions: Use your takedown lights, and/or spot light to light the interior of the stopped vehicle. Placing the spot light directly into the rear view mirror of the stopped vehicle can help cover your approach.
Pay attention to the verbal and physical cues from the driver. Excessive repetition of requests or instructions by the driver can be an indication of a problem, as is taking a long time to find documents such as driver’s license, registration or insurance card.
Control the stop. You control that vehicle and its passengers for the duration of the stop. If you feel it is necessary, request assistance.Talk to you later..
After years of promises and months of delays, House Republicans passed their version of an Obamacare repeal and replacement Thursday, muscling the far-right legislation through their chamber by feverishly pressuring moderates in the closing days.
Republicans passed the bill 217 – 213, with 20 Republicans voting “no” and not a single Democrat voting in support.
But what seems like a victory for House Republicans may ultimately be their downfall.
Democrats were of two minds about Republicans advancing the bill, which would gut some of Obamacare’s most popular provisions (including protections for people with pre-existing conditions as well as the Medicaid expansion).
On one hand, Democrats desperately wanted to protect President Barack Obama’s signature law. On the other hand, Democrats believe ― perhaps correctly ― that this extremely conservative bill can’t pass the Senate, and that House Republicans may have just hung a profoundly unpopular legislation around the necks of some of their most vulnerable members.
As Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D‑Calif.) told Republicans during her floor speech before the vote, Democrats plan to tattoo every provision of this bill to the foreheads of Republicans. “You will glow in the dark,” Pelosi said.
While Republicans were cheering as they crossed a passing threshold, Democrats began singing to their counterparts a popular anthem, “Na-na-na-NA, na-na-NA, hey, hey, hey! Goodbye!”
A number of vulnerable Republicans also held off on voting for the bill until it was clear leadership needed their vote. Of particular note, Carlos Curbelo (R‑Fla.), Darrell Issa (R‑Calif.), and Peter Roskam (R‑Ill.) all waited to see if their votes would be needed before they supported the bill. Ultimately, leadership needed all of them.
When Democrats passed the health care law in 2010, many members knew it was coming at the expense of their seats. They did it, however, because it was policy they deeply believed in, protecting millions of sick and poor Americans while growing the number of insured in the country to record highs.
Republicans marched off this potential political cliff knowing their bill would uninsure millions, undermine protections for the sick and poor, and probably face little chance of becoming law ― and they did it without a revised score from the Congressional Budget Office.
But at least it’s off their plate.
That was the thinking among many members who just wanted to advance the process to the Senate and fulfill a promise that every Republican ran on: To repeal and replace Obamacare.
As long as we get another vote on the conference report, which we will, then there’s all kinds of ways to block [it] in the future if it doesn’t work out.Rep. Daniel Webster (R‑Fla.)
A number of the last remaining holdouts on the GOP health care legislation said in the closing days that they just wanted to move on. One vulnerable Republican, Rep. Martha McSally of Arizona, told members in a closed door meeting on Thursday that they just had to “get this fucking thing done,” according to members and aides present.
Rep. Daniel Webster (R‑Fla.), one of the last Republicans to flip from no to yes, changed his position after he got assurances from President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Speaker Paul Ryan (R‑Wis.) that they would address Webster’s concern about Florida having to pick up a clawback in federal funding for seniors in nursing homes, even though that fix isn’t in the legislation and leaders haven’t agreed on what they’ll do.
“We got several on line,” Webster said Thursday. “We’re working on those, we’re going to get some scores and so forth before we actually commit, and I’m willing to do that.”
Pressed that he was, in essence, voting to pass the legislation before he knows what will ultimately be in it, Webster said he was just advancing the process.
“There’s plenty of votes between now and the end. This is for this vote,” he said.
“As long as we get to a process,” Webster added. “As long as we have a conference, as long as the Senate has to vote, as long as we get another vote on the conference report, which we will, then there’s all kinds of ways to block [it] in the future if it doesn’t work out.”
Republicans are also voting on this latest legislation without a CBO score, a fact Republicans either shrugged off or denied, claiming that an earlier score was sufficient.
“We already had the Congressional Budget score when we did the main bill,” Rep. David McKinley (R‑W.V.) told reporters Thursday morning. “These are amendments that only perfected, [and] do not add costs.”
McKinley added that the CBO score could “only get better” with the latest amendments, but when pressed how he knew that, McKinley ignored the question.
The amendments that McKinley believes will improve the legislation were critical to getting the bill over the finish line. The first amendment, which brought roughly 20 Freedom Caucus members who were voting no to yes, would allow states to opt out of the Obamacare provisions ensuring that people with pre-existing conditions are charged the same amount as healthy people, as well as the provisions mandating that insurers cover 10 Essential Health Benefits ― things like lab services, maternity care, and emergency room visits.
That amendment, worked out between moderate leader Rep. Tom MacArthur (R‑N.J.) and Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Mark Meadows (R‑N.C.), was key to reviving health care talks, after the first version of the bill was pulled from the floor at the end of March.
That MacArthur and Meadows’ amendment will be difficult for the CBO to score, as they’ll have to predict whether states opt out of those Affordable Care Act provisions and set up a high-risk pool for sick people. (One of the conditions of a state waiving those regulations is that it establishes a high-risk pool.)
Republicans argue the high-risk pools are a sufficient protection for those people with pre-existing conditions, though, historically, those pools have been underfunded and people in them have paid much higher premiums and deductibles. The Center for American Progress estimated earlier this week that the Republican health care bill underfunds the high-risk pools by $200 billion over 10 years.
In a small bow to moderates, GOP leaders agreed to accept an amendment that would add $8 billion over five years for states that waive those Obamacare regulations to help people facing higher premiums. Upton, who was a “no” vote on the bill earlier in the week, said leadership told him $5 billion would cover the costs of those higher premiums and he got $8 billion, though Upton doesn’t know where those figures came from and the Center for American Progress estimates it would only cover the costs of about 80,000 people ― a tiny portion of the people who could be affected by the change.
Either way, that amendment brought Upton and fellow Energy and Commerce member Rep. Billy Long (R‑Mo.) back to a “yes” vote, and it was later treated as a key reasoning for Reps. David Young (R‑Iowa,) Jeff Denham (R‑Calif.), and David Valadao (R‑Calif.) ― three potentially vulnerable Republicans who had been holding out ― to flip to a “yes” vote.
Those three members were key to leadership moving ahead, but there were dozens more Republicans who said they were undecided about the legislation that leadership had to win over.
While this bill’s passage will be treated as a victory for Paul Ryan and Donald Trump ― and, at least in the short-term, it is ― Republicans have chief deputy whip Rep. Patrick McHenry (R‑N.C.) to thank for shoring up support among many doubtful members. McHenry worked the floor frantically in the week leading up to the vote, convincing fence-sitting Republicans to help leadership out by voting “yes.”
Young people who crave excitement become gang members. The media often glamorize the gang lifestyle. » Young people who cannot resist peer pressure may join because their friends are in gangs. They may feel pressured to join to be part of the “in” crowd. » Young people who are fearful often feel that being a gang member will keep them safe. If they are challenged by others, their gang/crew will help them retaliate because in the gang culture, no challenge goes unanswered. Perversely, this idea of “safety” leads to increased violence. » Youth who do not understand the consequences do not fully understand the risks of being in a gang. Risks include arrest, physical assault and in some cases, death. » Young people are often recruited by older gang members to commit their criminal acts, because the adults feel that laws are more lenient on juveniles. In Jamaica the laws are lenient on all criminals so the latter line does not apply. However lax law enforcement and a porous and delinquent justice system encourages and enhances the process of criminality and Gang activity it was designed to remedy.
If you are still wondering why there are so many homicides in Jamaica amidst the hype about“one love “and the other b**s**t Jingles they use to lure unsuspecting tourists in, look no further than the courts. It’s not just the courts which are contributing to the high kill rate , but they play a large role in contributing to it. It is extremely difficult for the Police to take murderers off the streets, primarily because of a lack of training, tools and remunerations to name a few of the department’s don’t have.
Portia Simpson Miller the former Prime Minister
On the rare occasion that a murderer is arrested for a crime , one would logically assume it would make sense to keep him in custody and expedite his trial so that the society can send a clear message murders will not be tolerated. Well if you thought that is the strategy you are wrong. As soon as they are brought in by the Police the Judges who are friends with the high priced lawyers who represent the killers release them on bail.
Oh by the way if you are wondering where poor inner- city residents (generally the shooters)get money to afford these high priced lawyers to defend them ? Your guess is as good as mine. Now in order to understand the dynamics of the high murder rate you have to consider who pays the lawyers. You also have to consider that the lawyers and judges generally all graduate from the same colleges , they hang out together and they all come from the same dirty pool.
Bruce Golding
So the strategy is to release them back onto the streets and drag the case on and on and on after which it’s thrown out for want of prosecution. Victims and their families be damned. Now it matters not that the want of prosecution is sometimes facilitated by the very system which is supposed to punish offenders.
Out of that help from the system the criminal underworld crafted it’s own strategy to stay out of jail for good. Simply kill the witnesses!!! Check mate.
Justice Minister Delroy Chuck
There is so much to unpack from whats driving the homicide rate in our country. In order to understand it one has to divest himself of the notion that Government (party nueteral)is acting in the best interest of citizens and the Judges are honest people. If you are able to facilitate that mental divorce you will then become outraged to learn that the Island’s Justice Minister Delroy Chuck proposed that all cases on the court dockets over 5 years be purged for good. Including Murder cases !!!
Every living person with the ability to think, must know that ‑that is a homicide enhancement motion. Much like the INDECOM Act, hastily thrown together and forced onto the country by Bruce Golding and his cronies , including Holness ‚with the blessings of the simple minded Portia Simpson Miller and her band of miscreants.
Since it is not too difficult to understand that if you are prepared to toss murders , rapes and other serious cases, criminals are going to do their part to make sure that cases do not get tried before the 5 year cut off date. Delroy Chuck is no fool he is a well educated lawyer , so everyone must understand that he knows exactly what he is doing when he makes such a proposal. Neither Chuck or any other individual must have the right to make such momentous decisions. There is a reason murder does not have a statute of limitation . It is a violation against common law. That means there doesn’t have to be a statute created by man to make the taking of another human life punishable with serious punitive responses including the murderers own death. From the beginning of recorded history it has been the ultimate crime. Against man and God. For my readers who do not understand what that means here goes. There are no time limits on prosecuting a person for killing another human being. Whenever you are caught you are going to be punished 50 or a hundred years later, it does not matter.
This is why Jamaicans have to look at the people they put in power with a serious eye . More importantly they have to know what people stand for before putting them in office. You don’t vote for an individual simply because he/she is part of the party you like. Purging court dockets under the guise that it will free up the courts and subsequently make the system more fluid and efficient, will produce the exact opposite. It Will create exponentially more murders by offenders who understand all they have to do is frustrate the process for 5 years . Their high priced lawyers and corrupt judges know exactly how to get that accomplished.
Docket purge happens day in day out on it’s own . Hiring more judges at the Resident Magistrate level quickly resolves the backlogs,. These lawyers you hire to run the country knows that. That’s the fix, not rewarding murderers and other dangerous felons with absolution. So whats behind this idea to purge court dockets? Could it be that they have people on them they do not want to face the courts? Maybe ‚but that is hardly the reason they could simply toss a judge some money at the trial level or even cook up an appeal for those already convicted and with enough money they can get anyone off any charge.
So the reason has to be a payback to the criminals in their constituencies . You never see smoke without fire, there will be no one in that Gordon House to say , “wait just a minute this is not a good idea”. Because it serves their interest not the interest of the public. A public which have now fallen in love with the killings and for the most part , are fixated on profiteering from the killculture
INTHEMEANTIME…
Peter Abrahams’ alleged killer gets bail
The 61-one-year-old farmer who was implicated in the death of veteran journalist Peter Abrahams was offered $300,000 bail when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.Norman Tomlinson of Cyprus district in Red Hills, St Andrew, who is the husband of Abrahams’ helper, was offered bail by Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell last Friday.
We continue to speak to the Jamaican Police about executing safe arrests , particularly in light of mounting evidence of proper protocols not being followed.
♦So the first order of business in executing an arrest is speed. Once an offender is told in sharp , clear and concise language that he/she is under arrest , the next command must be , turn around and place your hands behind your back. The reason for ordering the offender to turn away from you the officer, and place his/her harm behind the back, is to mitigate potential harm to you the officer. It also gives a clear indication right away to you the officer whether this offender intends to resist arrest or not.
♦ The next step is to move swiftly and decidedly to the offender and place him in handcuffs , always with hands cuffed behind the back. If the offender is belligerent , argumentative , and non-compliant, officer/s must bring the offender to the ground and execute the arrest as swiftly as possible . ♦In executing an arrest there should be no circumstances in which an officer or two struggles with effecting an arrest while another officer is standing around like a casual observer. In the event that happens the department should forthwith send that officer back for retraining ‚or he or she should be dismissed from the service.
Bystanders who intervenes , obstructs, goads or otherwise interferes with an arrest must forthwith be placed under arrest and charged for obstructing Governmental Administration or Assisting the principal in resisting arrest depending on the statute.
(1) Where police fail to follow established guidelines in effecting safe arrests in Jamaica, and (2) the United States where some Police officers use the arrest process to exact revenge and retribution on arrestees for myriad reasons. I believe there is a amicable middle ground . As I said in a previous article, when an offender is told to turn away from the arresting officer and place his hands behind the back of his head, it gives the arresting officer a chance to find out to a certain degree whether the offender intends to resist, (unless that offender decides to play Possum) . In which case the officer is trained to deal with that situation. There is a middle ground which does not always have to include either polar opposites if executed correctly. There is a grey area between Rambo brutes and incompetent wimps.
Watching Jamaican cops execute arrests is like root canal , rather painful to live through. As a public service I have tried to use this medium to not only critique the criminal justice system but to inform , educate, and opine on how we can make it better.
The Jamaican Legislature in this regard is like an old train track , it simply lays there regardless of what happens, it gets overgrown with weeds, debris stays exactly where it is left on it, regardless of the danger to coming trains. So since we cannot rely on the legislature to do anything about this epidemic of resisting arrest in our country, it behoove the police to acquire and use best practices , even if they have to sources those practices from YouTube videos.
The longer it takes for officers to execute an arrest the more dangerous the situation becomes. It shows a lack of ability on the part of the officer/s , it emboldens the offender and it encourages bystanders to get involved.
♦So the first order of business in executing an arrest is speed. Once an offender is told in sharp , clear and concise language that he/she is under arrest , the next command must be , turn around and place your hands behind your back. The reason for ordering the offender to turn away from you the officer, and place his/her arms behind the back, is to mitigate potential harm to you the officer. It also gives a clear indication right away to you the officer whether this offender intends to resist arrest or not.
♦ The next step is to move swiftly and decidedly to the offender and place him in handcuffs , always with hands cuffed behind the back. If the offender is belligerent , argumentative , and non-compliant, officer/s must bring the offender to the ground and execute the arrest as swiftly as possible . ♦In executing an arrest there should be no circumstances in which an officer or two struggles with effecting an arrest while another officer is standing around like a casual observer. In the event that happens the department should forthwith send that officer back for retraining ‚or he or she should be dismissed from the service.
♦ Officers must all move in to execute the arrest swiftly and safely for all involved including the offender. They should also ensure that no one intervenes to interfere in the arrest. As such, if there are several officers on scene one officer must ensure that no one gets close to officers engaged in effecting that arrest. A bystander wishing to intervene can easily grab an officer’s gun and create untold harm to officers.
As such any bystanders who refuses to move to a safe distance from officers, incites the person being arrested to resist arrest or otherwise interferes, must also be arrested immediately.
The issue of executing arrests safely is critical to both officer safety and that of the offender . Just last week two people lost their lives in a situation from all indications which suggest that proper arrest protocols were not observed . Constable Leighton Hanson of the Constant Spring Police was killed allegedly by an offender he tried to take into custody, but clearly did not follow the established protocols.
He lost his life after the offender reportedly grabbed his weapon and shot him. He was killed by members of the JDF who were passing and witnessed the incident. Every person who is told that he is under arrest is capable of murdering a police officer. No one wants to go to jail . They snap and do things they never thought they would do. Subsequently each and every officer must ensure that they are prepared to deal with any situation the moment they decide to arrest an offender.
For the safety of all, the arrest must be done swiftly , decisively, and with authority. That does not mean abusively. Every person who is told that he is under arrest has a duty under the law to submit to being arrested , regardless of whether he/she thinks the arrest is justified or not. You do not have a right to fight with a police officer . The police is given the power to use appropriate force to ensure that you submit to the arrest .
It is important that every person understand this obligation under the law. If you resist and try to cause harm to the arresting officer , the officer have a right to use the necessary force to bring you under compliance. Here’s what is critical to understand, the arresting officer has the latitude based on his/her assessment of the danger to him or herself to use even lethal force to subdue you as a result of the threat he/she perceives to him/herself. Why would you engage in a fight with someone who is authorized to use any level of force, including lethal force to subdue you?
What do you think is going to happen when you resist arrest? Do you think that a properly trained officer who knows he is doing his duty by the book is going to walk away because you decide to resist arrest? Guess again . You will have your day in court .You will also have a right to an attorney who will advise you of your rights including your right to civil action if you believe you were wronged .
We cannot have a society in which every arrest has to be accompanied by violence. Constable Leighton Hanson is dead , I hear no statement which would indicate that a single legislator understand the need, much less have the intention to propose changes which would make resisting arrest a felony. That law could be named the Hanson act in honor of that slain officer. This probably won’t happen where there is no vision outside the banging on desks and the insults which permeate what happens in Gordon House when the 63 miscreants get in there.
Every time I ask, I am told that there is proper training on how best to execute arrests . I have not seen that professional execution in arrest videos that make their way onto social media platforms. Newly installed Commissioner of police George Quallo would be well advised to ensure that whatever his department has on arrest training, is revamped and re-redesigned . Clearly what exist is not working .Additionally his department issues the weekly force orders to the public, a move I said was a bad one when Owen Ellington former commissioner embarked on it. Nevertheless it can be a medium used to educate the public about the dangers of resisting arrest until hopefully something serious is done about this practice.
The media may have started losing interest in the Black Lives Matter movement, but new information about the death of Texas teenager Jordan Edwards illustrates that the underlying problem of police violence against African-Americans remains as pervasive as ever.
After Edwards, 15, was shot in the head through the front passenger window of a car leaving a house party in the Dallas suburb of Balch Springs on Saturday, police claimed that the killing was necessary because the vehicle had been backing toward the officers “in an aggressive manner,” according to a report by NPR. On Monday afternoon, however, Chief Jonathan Haber had to retract that account and call into question whether the officer who killed Edwards had justification for doing so.
“In fact, the car with five teenagers inside was moving forward, not backward, and away from the officers, not toward them. There was no altercation, known or otherwise,” writes NPR’s Wade Goodwyn. “Nevertheless one of officers fired a rifle multiple times into the passenger window, killing young Jordan Edwards. None of the teens were carrying weapons, nor were they drunk.”
Goodwyn added, “Chief Haber said his review of the officer’s body camera video indicated the shooting may not meet his department’s standards.”
On issuing guidance to lower courts on the issue of Police Reasonable Force, theUS Supreme Court’s guidelines are as follows.
The Supreme Court cautioned courts examining excessive force claims that “the calculus of reasonableness must embody allowance for the fact that police officers are often forced to make split-second judgments – in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving – about the amount of force that is necessary in a particular situation.” The Court also stated that the use of force should be measured by what the officer knew at the scene, not by the “20/20 vision of hindsight” by a Monday-morning quarterback. In sum, the Court fashioned a realistically generous test for use of force lawsuits.
Jamaica is not governed by American law yet I thought I would use this guideline as a barometer of (1) How the most powerful court in the world sees and articulates this issue and (2) the guidance it gives to the court system in the United States as it relates to the latitude law enforcement should have in apprehending violent non-compliant offenders.
It must be said that the power to use all necessary force to subdue an offender must only be commensurate with the level of resistance, or just enough above, to gain control of the offender. Immediately the subject is restrained and cuffed no physical force must be applied to the subject. Any force applied to a cuffed offender who has stopped resisting is excessive force and outside of the guidelines given to law enforcement officers .
In fairness to the Jamaica Constabulary Force this policy has been the longstanding policy of the department for as long as I can remember. Officers who approach subjects with the intent to arrest must be prepared to engage in a struggle, no one wants to go to jail. On that basis officers have a responsibility to themselves to protect their own lives . Use the commensurate force and caution to secure the offender leave the gibberish to the cynics, Monday-morning-quarterbacks and in Jamaica’s case the village lawyers.
On May 29th I wrote the following ::::: As Police officers and citizens lives continue to be snuffed out in alarming numbers, the Government is deathly silent. In other countries when a police office is killed there is massive push-back from their societies and certainly Government. Under both Political parties stewardship, the ruthless killing of Police officers illicit crickets…….. Deafening silence………. Not Portia, Not Peter Phillips and damn sure not Andrew Holness. These misguided little morons sit by and make no statement, as if the death of police officers is beneath them, the perrogative of underlings to address. Who the fuck do they think they are ?
I took a lot of flack by supporters of the Prime Minister who pointed out that the Honorable Prime Minister had indeed issued a statement on the death of constable Leighton Hanson and Detective sergeant Thompson another officer killed albeit days after being shot by hoodlums. What pains me is that there are police officers and past police officers who are more interested in making the case for politicians than they are at lobbying for better working conditions for themselves, their colleagues and former colleagues.
Then on Sunday the Prime Minister issued this statement a full day later than my Article was published.
Andrew-Holness
I deeply regret and I am saddened at developments over the weekend which have resulted in two members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) losing their lives due to the vicious actions of criminal elements.
Police Commissioner, George Quallo, along with the brave and courageous men and women of the security forces have the full support of the Government in their unrelenting fight to protect the citizenry and themselves against criminal elements.
Detective Sergeant Thompson and Constable Hanson are heroes. I thank them for their courageous actions in confronting criminal elements. Regrettably, they lost their lives. I am deeply hurt at the outcome and our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends and the JCF at what is a very difficult time, not only for the Constabulary but for all well-thinking members of society. Indeed, the loss of life of any innocent person due to violence and crime should be strongly condemned. Members of our security forces risk their lives to protect us on a daily basis. We must support them. In a bid to give the security forces the most suitable possible environment to cauterise and eliminate criminal activity, the Government of Jamaica renews its commitment to secure the passage of legislation, including the zones of special operations and community development bill which was recently referred to a joint select committee of Parliament.
It’s increasingly clear that decisive action must be taken by all well-thinking stakeholders, including lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle, in a bid to thwart criminal elements who are not bashful about taking the lives of innocent Jamaicans and confronting the men and women of the Constabulary who are tasked to serve and protect.I am urging the Security Forces not to lose heart but to remain professional and committed to safety and security in Jamaica. I am also urging all Jamaicans to support the Government in efforts to make the necessary social and legislative interventions to significantly reduce crime and violence.
I give the Prime Minister credit for at least issuing a statement albeit late, it was much more than the People’s National Party leader and Prime Minister did while in office. Nevertheless being shamed into speaking out , ought not be the way we treat the men and women of the security forces who risk all so that we all can sleep at night. I stand by my statement that the Government did not speak out at the killing of Constable Hanson. He did speak out , but only after we chided the government for it’s failures.
We thought we would shine a little light on the hypocrisy of anti-police group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ); How dare JFJ the criminal supporting , anti police lobby cry crocodile tears for fallen police officers. Having stabbed the Police in the back since 1999, this enemy of the state lobby has the unmitigated gall to pretend to care about dead cops after rousing the criminal rabble against law enforcement for almost 18 years.
Could it be that the tide is turning? Could it be that in the court of popular opinion enough Jamaicans are awakening to the fact that tearing down their police force is unsustainable? Could it be that that discontent is starting to filter out and they are hearing the rumblings”? Is it possible that the sight of a dead cop in uniform with blood oozing from his head or face may have lit a spark in the Jamaican people?
JFJ does not get to stir the pot, feed the flame, and add fuel to the fire of anti-police sentiment and as soon as the blood start flowing they wash their hands and pretend that there is no blood on their hands. The blood has been on their hands as it has been on the hands of INDECOM, the Politicians and those who support criminality on the Island.
Jamaicans for Justice does not get to launch a preemptive strike to now curry favor because the mood of the people are beginning to change. You don’t get to spend 18 years sowing seeds and then deny the harvest.
Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) , INDECOM, Families against state terrorism, the Public defenders office all have a role in this and they must be held accountable for what they have done to our country and the lack of respect for the rule of law. Every honest , law abiding Jamaican know that the police must be scrutinized, no question about that . Nevertheless what they have done to our country in emboldening criminals and tearing down the rule of law is unforgivable.
This must come to an end and it must end now.
SAIDTHEANTI-POLICELOBBY
Human rights lobby group, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), is calling for more to be provided for the welfare of members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. This follows Friday’s killing of Constable Leighton Hanson on Constant Spring Road in St Andrew. Hanson was apprehending a man when he was shot in the head. Advocacy Manager at JFJ, Rodje Malcolm, in an interview with RJR News said the welfare of members of the force is “essential to security”. In a statement on Saturday, JFJ said the incident brings into sharp focus the high-stress environment in which many police officers work and the need for adequate psycho-social support systems for them. The human rights lobby group is urging the Police High Command and the government to give more support to the well-being of police officers on and off duty in particular their working conditions, physical safety, and stress management. JFJ says these must be among the priorities for Police Commissioner George Quallo.
Yesterday I spoke to you about the state of Criminal Justice in Jamaica in part one of what I intend to be a two-part series on the subject. This is not the first time that I have spoken about Jamaica’s broken and woefully inept criminal justice system, and it certainly will not be the last. As long as the system is as decrepit as it is, I will continue to shine a light on it. I am unrestrained from telling the truth as I am not in the employ of that system anymore , neither do I intend to be a part of it in the future. One thing is certain, is that one doesn’t need to be inside a fire to know that it is hot, one does not need to be an expert to know that if one jumps off the Flat Bridge he will land in water.
We live in a technological age which makes access to information rather easy. Under freedom of information laws governments and agencies are not allowed to be Judge and Jury in determining whether the public has access to pertinent information it needs. The Jamaican Supreme Court for example has a website where all the pertinent information that may be required by interested parties are posted. Subsequently it is a little naïve’ for anyone to believe or suggest that one has to be immersed within the system in order to understand or fully appreciate what the inner workings are. Conversely I daresay it is rather uniquely Jamaican that we continue to delude ourselves into thinking that only certain people who are indeed heavily invested and or immersed within a particular discipline may appropriately address that particular discipline. What we have found is that misconception is directly attributable to some of the problems that are plaguing our country today.
I incorporated the forgone paragraph in response to my very good friend and former colleague who was really kind to respond to the previous blog. I appreciate his response and find him credible and heroic in voicing his opinion without hiding behind a moniker even as he still resides in Jamaica. Yesterday I told you Jamaica’s national security policy could be summed up in a single sentence (“spend all you can to protect the most despicable murderers”) It did not take long after I wrote that blog for the most notable face of criminal support in Jamaica to emerge in support of the most heartless, brutal, cold-blooded murderers on our planet.
Carolyn Gomes is probably a decent woman, but she is woefully misguided. I too believe everyone is entitled to protections under the laws, but Gomes by her actions have made it significantly and abundantly clear that she has used the Agency she heads (Jamaicans for Justice) as a tool against law enforcement and as a source of support for the most hardened murderers operating in Jamaica.
There is no rational explanation for the craven positions she and her agency takes in the defense of criminals, without even an attempt to balance that unmitigated support with empathy for crime victims who have suffered at the hands of these murderers. As one could reasonably expect she wasted no time in coming out in defense of these criminals , not suggesting, but demanding that members of the military be removed from the remand center, and effective control of prisoners.
Make no mistake this will happen. Never mind that authorities have categorically stated that the high-profile criminals at the heart of this issue are doing so because they want exactly what Gomes wants for them. They want to be removed from the control of the Military, they want to be returned to general population where they will be under the supervision of inept, poorly trained,corrupt correction officers(warders).
This begs the question was this response coördinated with the brief filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of the same criminals? As I pointed out yesterday these criminals have no established source of income as far as this blogger knows, so where does the money come from to pay the high-priced criminal lawyers who fall over themselves to represent them in the highest court in the country? Is the money coming from the same source as the funds that keep (JFJ) in business? Or does (JFJ) gets funded from the same pool that pays the high-priced (vultures)? Ask yourselves the question , where do these men get the funds to pay these high-priced lawyers (vultures)? And yes my dear friend Mac They are vultures, and they do double as law-makers , there is no discrepancy there. That statement is a fact, you see my friend it may be an inconvenient truth ‚but the truth nonetheless.
There are innumerable cases, too many to mention of Justices on courts at various levels of the Judiciary in Jamaica who routinely grant bail to criminals after they are arrested for serious crimes like murder and rape , they promptly go out kill or rape again are granted bail again and again and again to commit the same crimes sometimes up to five times over, even as they await trial for the first case on which were charged. Jamaican Judges argue that bail was not intended to be punitive, they argue bail was not intended to be punishment.
That may be all well and good according to British Judges, (which I will come back to). Since bail was not meant to be punishment who argues for the victims who are routinely gunned down on almost every street corner of Kingston and other cities in Jamaica, in broad daylight, as onlookers stand there transfixed, too scared to move, too scared to tell police who did it, even though they know the perpetrators? Too scared to speak , knowing if they tell they will be next. From Hagley Park road to Slipe road, from Tower Street to Matthews lane the blood of Jamaicans continue to run while Judges fiddle over semantics, refusing to lock criminals away for the maximum time allowed by law. If Judges continue to make the same arguments then yes the law is an ass and the Judges are even bigger Asses.
England ‚the former colonial power Jamaicans quote, and seek to emulate, do not make the same arguments in defense of their citizens. London is one of the most protected cities in the world, there are hundreds of thousands of cameras that literally stitch together the security of the city into manageable nerve centers where security professionals monitor the every move of Londoner in an effort to make sure the safety and security of that city is preserved. Whether one believes in big brother having that much control is a legitimate argument to be debated, but the results are impossible to deny.
In a sentence, countries which value their citizens understand that security is job number one. It is not about crash programme work, it is not about faux tears of caring , nations do not thrive on hugs and platitudes. Jamaica’s Judges like the politicians are complicity responsible for the high rate of criminality that continue to plague the nation. I spent 10 years in the Police force and I left it knowing that I could not make a difference serving in that department, I refused to be consumed by a system in which the people who risk their lives are set up to fail.
Many people are fooled by the “mister bigs” who hand over a car to the commissioner or a couple of motorcycles here and there. I would much rather see people with power in Jamaica use those powers to lobby for legislation which puts criminals in prison where they belong. Then again I won’t hold my breath, some of the most powerful in the suits and tie, are the most powerful gang leaders. Share this:
Upon approaching your car, look to make sure no one is hiding in or around the vehicle, especially in the back seat. Check your tires for flats. Keep windows rolled up, except for a small opening for ventilation and keep the doors locked at all times.
Keep valuables secured in the trunk, not lying on the seat next to you. Put your purse on the floor of your car. Plan your route before you leave. Displaying a map will send a message that you’re unfamiliar with the area.
Old Cast Iron Bridge, St. Catherine — Erected in 1801.
When stopped in traffic, always leave enough space between your car and the one in front of you. This will allow you to pass easily, if necessary. Keep your car well maintained and the gas tank at least half full to avoid getting stranded.
Should you suspect that you are being followed, make several turns down active streets. If the vehicle continues to follow, head for the nearest police station, fire house, or open store. Avoid driving to your home. If someone attempts to force you off the road, remain calm and blow your horn continuously to attract attention. If forced off the road, stop, put your car in reverse and back away.
Our country need a mental makeover. There is too much tolerance for misconduct. Too much empathy for wrong. Too much rationalizing for wrongdoers. Too much” it’s not a big deal”, to social disorder. I watched this attitude develop as a kid. I watched it take on a life of its own to the point the people who enforce our laws became the enemy.
They were labeled Babylon, a term coined by misguided Rastafarians who are still fighting a war , their enemy still undefined. But Rastafarians were not the problem,they simply coined the term. The term Babylon became a pejorative , a term of derision and disrespect for those who upheld the laws , for the Rastafarians the term was intended for a wider system of injustice as they saw it. For the society looking for scapegoats the term was appose. Society latched onto it and made it a scarlet letter of disdain for the Police.
So they demonized our law enforcement,and placed on them blame for every malady which ailed the society. Because the people who make the decisions are above reproach .[sic] Beyond being held responsible for the corruption , crimes and inequities they engage in. They blamed the Police for every stupid ignorant choice they ever made at the voting booth, rather than hold the people they voted for responsible. The society sowed blame ‚disrespect, hate, their every disappointment is pinned on the police. The children grow up learning to be disrespectful of the Police bway , fire bun pan babylon . While their parents curtsied and prostrated themselves at the feet of the so called big man the politician. The filthy deceptive , thieving scumbags who give guns to their sons to kill their neighbor’s sons. Shockingly they now feign wonder at the blatant disrespect their young people have, not just for the rule of law, or our officers, but for every societal norm their parents valued.
Clovis cartoon
Are the police to be blamed for some of the things which ails them ? Yes , you bet ! But the police as a group, have given much more in sweat,blood , and sacrifice than any other group of Jamaicans .Period !!! Why wonder at the whirlwind of anarchy now? You cultivated and nurtured it. The enemies of the people ‚enemies of the state, they sit safely in Gordon House and that makes me angry. I have never seen a single one of those scumbags lying in the streets dead , blood oozing from their heads. I have never seen any of them left to die in one of the Island’s shitty Hospitals like Detective Sergeant Lynch was ‚after he was shot chasing criminals who had murdered innocents. Sergeant Lynch had very chance to survive but his life was worth nothing to his civilian bosses who sent him out to protect and serve. A headache, and they are off to Miami or new York for treatment.
My batch-mate Detective Sergeant Cowan too was shot and injured by men in the Rema Area years ago. He too had all the chance in the world to survive , but the government did not think his life was worth saving either, so he too died from his injuries. The list of brave and not so brave Police Officers and our colleagues in the Military who made the ultimate sacrifice to our country is endless. Yet the nation’s illegitimate leaders have no idea how many . Neither do they care. And they have no intention of stopping it.
THEYSIDEDWITHSELFSERVINGLIARSANDCHARLATANS:
Carolyn Gomes
Rather than side with our nations warriors who risk life and limb to bend the arc of crime in our country,this band of miscreants sided with a bunch of elitists and arranged to further erode trust and confidence in our law enforcement by creating and putting in place an agency diametrically opposed to police. One seen as a dear friend to murderers and gangland operatives, INDECOM was born.
Well known street cop Renetto Adams spoke in-artfully about this years ago . He said Jamaica would pay dearly for it’s support for criminals. His words have boomeranged with marksman-like accuracy and alacrity.
Like moles , the Elitists are burrowed into the infrastructure of the society. They sit on boards , they are on the bench , the are in the legal fraternity. They are in Ministries and Institutions of higher learning, they are everywhere. Some got their because of their hatred. animus and disdain for the police. Just ask the media about that ‚for decades they dominated the messaging because they controlled the megaphone.. People were told to stone police stations as a means to air their displeasure. Police officers were degraded to jankru on national television, for daring to stop and question a crack head newscaster, out buying drugs in Barbican late at night.
So don’t shed your damn crocodile tears now that your children are killing innocent people, including police officers left right and center . You taught them to do the things they are doing. Stop acting damn surprised, you refused to place the blame where the blame really belonged. You took the disrespect which should have been placed on Manley , Seaga, Patterson,Portia, Golding , Holness and the band of criminals around them and you dumped your anger on the police.
Deal with the mess you created, you pretended that our country can be policed the way developed countries are. In the meantime the politicians are safe with their police details. They must think you are really stupid.
In the age of ubiquitous video and mushrooming oversight, how can you ensure that your use of force does not bring unwanted discredit upon you,and your department? Know the law, and comply with it.
“Where an officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a threat of serious physical harm, either to himself/herself, or to others, it is not constitutionally unreasonable to use deadly force to stop that threat.
Almost daily I write about crime in Jamaica . I also get on the airwaves and talk about it at times. I do so not because I am fixated with the negative things happening in our country. I do so because I understand that pretending that we are going to build wealth and prosperity within spaces dominated by murder mayhem and chaos is simply delusional at best, or worse a blatant lie being perpetuated on the nation. As I said to a former colleague earlier today in private, when I consider the safety and security of our country I do not think of the People’s National Party as part of the solution for reining in the lawlessness. There simply has been no precedent in the history of the PNP to act on crime and social disorder. The PNP has capitalized on lawlessness in order to cravenly dominate state power.
The Party does so using the tactic of populism. Their populist “do whatever you want wink and nod: has turned Jamaica into what it is today, one of the world’s most violent, crime ridden nations teetering precipitously on the brink of becoming a failed state.
So we are left with the Jamaica Labor Party the other major political party. The labor party was the party of fiscal discipline, the party of law and order, it was the party which cared about workers . It was Bustamante who spent almost two years in prison for daring to challenge the existing mores of the ruling Colonial masters on behalf of ordinary workers. It was Bustamante who bared his chest to soldiers and said “shoot me and let my people go”, It was Bustamante who kept our country out of a calamitous West Indies Federation , which was to collapse soon after Jamaica withdrew. It was under Bustamante that our country was placed on a solid footing of autonomy and self determination. Not the Ivy league educated Norman Manley.
That party is no longer around. This Labor Party is not the party of Herbert Eldemire , Donald Sangster and it damn sure isn’t the party of the Rt. Hon Hugh Lawson Shearer. Is it still an improvement over the pathetic power hungry PNP which is only after stealing from state funds ? Absolutely yes. Nevertheless it was the Labor Party which refused to extradite Christopher Coke. It was the new JLP which allowed Tivoli Gardens to maturate into the mother of all Garrisons. It was the JLP which gave the nation INDECOM. It is the JLP which refuses to repeal the atrocious cop killing law and for that the party must be held accountable. And it is the JLP which now has the power to move decisively against the nation’s terrorists, and it has not done so.
♦At the introduction of the INDECOM act I said it would embolden criminals , almost 7 years later there is irrefutable evidence that criminals and ordinary folks alike are emboldened to not only break the laws but they openly assault and kill Police officers. ♦ At the roll out of the law I said the attitude of the commissioner of INDECOM Terrence Williams, would send a clear and unequivocal message that they have an ally and protector in INDECOM. They do. ♦I said crime would increase and increase exponentially. It has. ♦I predicted a spike in homicide. There has been. ♦I said cops would be killed . The evidence is clear they are being killed.
And so yesterday another cop had his life snuffed out in broad daylight, in his uniform because two things occurred . He was too scared of INDECOM to effect the arrest the correct way . And his killer knew it was okay to resist arrest and kill a cop. The sitting Administration steadfastly refuses to say this was ill-conceived, we will revisit the law. . On that basis every dead cop, every law abiding citizen who dies is the responsibility of the government . The blood is on their hands.
As Police officers and citizens lives continue to be snuffed out in alarming numbers, the Government is deathly silent. In other countries when a police office is killed there is massive push-back from their societies and certainly Government. Under both Political parties stewardship, the ruthless killing of Police officers illicit crickets.….… Deafening silence.….….. Not Portia, Not Peter Phillips and damn sure not Andrew Holness. These misguided little morons sit by and make no statement, as if the death of police officers is beneath them, the perrogative of underlings to address. Who the fuck do they think they are ? The Police have not released an official statement on the matter thus far.
Clearly this force is not learning anything regarding modern policing protocols and it’s members are paying a high price for the incompetence of it’s leadership. The officer was murdered and a senior officer in khaki dress was seen on the scene no one lifted a finger to offer first aid. The scene was not closed off immediately, another breach of protocol/Passers by photographed and video taped the dead officer. The videos and images are plastered across social media . Motorists drove on the sidewalks to get to where they were going,in a situation where the entire area ought to have been closed to all traffic. Clearly there was no observation of any established best practices, an insult to the family of the dead officer. This Police force continue to be the Barney Fyffe of law enforcement .
On the issue of training , I have been talking about this for years. Simply observe established norms across other police departments, then train and operate acordingly . Only in Jamaica is it frowned upon when officers order criminals to the ground at gunpoint in order to effect an arrest. Had this officer observed these basic standards, he would have been alive today. I served in the JCF between January 1982 until October 1991 . You best believe during my servuce when I order you to get down on your knees you are going to do as I say.
Every officer has a right to go home to his/her family, the same way Andrew Holness , Peter Phillips, and Terrence Williams does. They should never be apprehensive that some bureaucrat will sit in judgement of them , when they are the ones risking their lives.
This case brings tears to my eyes , I too was stationed at Constant Spring. Word is that the other officer with the slain officer ran away. On the night I was shot the other two keystone cops ran away, one was a detective corporal, the other a District Constable. I understood the actions of the district constable then ‚but the corporal.…? He would later be promoted to the Rank of Senior Superintendent after I left the department. A reflection of how the force has regressed over the years because of political manipulation and strangulation. Despite being shot that night I was able to single handedly remove another brand new weapon and ammunition from the streets.
I offer my condolences to the family of constable Leighton Hanson, your son gave his life to an ungrateful nation. Notwithstanding you should be eternally proud. Your son’s sacrifice was not in vain . He died so that people less than himself and undeserving of his life’s work and sacrifice may live. Unfortunately for you ‑you are now left to grieve his loss. We offer our love and prayers.
Be aware of your surroundings at all times and trust your instincts. If you think you are in an area you should not be, you probably are.
Know where you’re going and the safest way to get there, particularly when moving about the city during hours of darkness. Walk/run in well-traveled, well-lit areas avoiding short cuts through alleys and parking lots.
Have a plan of action in mind. Decide where you would go and what you would do should some dangerous situation occur. Know where the nearest police/fire station is located, how to contact the police in the event of an emergency, what establishments are open late where you could seek refuge if needed, etc.
Walk with confidence on the street and at a good, steady pace. Keep your head up, observe your surroundings, and don’t look down at the ground.
Carry a whistle or similar type of noisemaker. In the event of an emergency, the sound may scare off a would-be attacker.
Take special care when jogging or biking. Vary your route, go with a friend, and avoid isolated areas.
Do NOT wear headphones or listen to music. These can distract you from being aware of your surroundings and who may be approaching you.
Keep purses and packages tucked securely between your arms and body. Don’t overload yourself with packages and bags – it is distracting and it can make you look defenseless.
Carry only what you need. Don’t carry a large amount of cash or numerous credit cards and avoid wearing flashy and excessive amounts of jewelry.
Exercise caution when using ATM machines. Only use ATMs located in well lit, well trafficked areas those physically located in stores are the safest.
If You are Being Followed:
Show you are suspicious and turn to look at the person. It sends a clear message that you will not be taken by surprise.
Change directions. If someone is following you on foot, cross the street and vary your pace. If the person following you is in a car, turn and walk in the opposite direction.
Go into the nearest store or public place. If the person follows you, ask to use (or find) a phone and call for help. If there isn’t a store or public area nearby, keep moving. If you have to scream (or blow your whistle) to draw attention to your situation, do it.
If You are Robbed:
DONOTRESIST, especially if you know or believe the robber to be armed. The best course of action is to hand over money and whatever other belongings are demanded as quickly as possible and try to disengage from this confrontational, and potentially dangerous. Remember, belongings can always be replaced, but you cannot.
Try to remain calm. Note the robber’s appearance and report the crime immediately to the police.
The sight of 8 Jamaicans cuffed and shackled under the watchful eye of United States Federal law Enforcement Officials should be a wake up call for Jamaicans of all stripes. One of the things Jamaicans cherish most is the idea of our right to self determination, autonomy and most of all our sovereignty. The idea of Jamaicans shackled and cuffed leaving our shores to face Justice abroad should wake even the most intellectually indolent to the fact that our world has become exponentially more interconnected. As a consequence actions taken by our Nationals at a home will have serious consequences abroad even though he/she may have never set foot outside Jamaica.
These are the realities of today and the interconnected nature of our world is not unraveling despite Brexit or the rise of white Nationalism across Europe and the United States.
This writer takes no pride in saying I told you so . I would rather that Jamaican officials move stridently and decisively to choke off the avenues of criminality which are forcing Jamaicans to engage in these practices. It may reasonably be argued that the incredibly poor governance which the nations leaders have provided since 1962 has forced our people into lives of crime with Government’s silent acquiescence.
Christopher Coke being taken away by US Federal Agents..
Because of the Interconnected nature of our world transnational crimes like the lotto scam (wire fraud) are being committed across continents. This makes victims of citizens of countries the perpetrators have never set foot on. With the ease of which large sums of monies can change hands these days in a matter of minutes the task of tracking , apprehending and bring transnational criminals to justice takes on added significance.
Jamaica’s obligations to International charters and other agreements makes it mandatory that it adheres to, and honor lawful request by other member states when our nationals have committed crimes against their citizens.
For years this writer has warned that this would be happening . For years I wrote that if Jamaica refuses to put in place stringent and effective methods to curtail the rampant criminality in the society others will do it for us, and we will not be happy about the way they do it.
If the Tivoli incursion which led to Christopher (dudus) Coke’s eventual arrest in 2010 and the other instances of Jamaicans leaving in cuffs to face real justice overseas is not warning enough,the new batch of 8 won’t make a difference to the brain dead. Unfortunately for Jamaica this is only the tip of the iceberg, this practice will be stepped up with alarming alacrity.
Alleged Scammer being led to airplane .
We understand that as much as 500 more are to be extradited for their parts in this scam. The number of Jamaicans leaving in chains will eventually start resembling the images of our fore-parents coming to the western world hundreds of years ago.
The difference being that our ancestors were guiltless. If you don’t discipline your children society provides a penal system to discipline them for you. Refusing to pay serious attention to crime, and unwarranted interference in law enforcement by Jamaica’s political leaders (many , criminals themselves) have seriously eroded the rule of law and placed our country precipitously close to being a failed state despite the noise to the contrary.
Lax law enforcement and a lack of seriousness about crime has served to attract criminals to our country rather than repel them. In fact Jamaicans living abroad who play by their host country’s rules deliberately break Jamaica’s law once they step off a plane at either of the Island’s two International Airports.
Lotto scammer 28-year-old Damion Barrett of Norwood, St. James being led away to be flown out of the Island.
Like flies to feces criminals flock to places where they are allowed to commit crimes with the least chance they will be held accountable.
We now see Jamaica attracting criminals from Europe and other parts of the world , including Chinese criminals who would be summarily executed if the crimes they commit in Jamaica were committed in China..
We also see a proliferation of Mosques in our country. This does not mean that Muslims are all killers who blow up places, but where they go we can also see that those who share some aspects of the faith also attach themselves to those locales with the intent to do harm to others.
Jamaica’s leadership can be stuck on stupid or they can cast off the unsustainable mantle of empathy, aid and comfort they have afforded criminals in the past and begin to understand the seriousness of the times and the consequences to our nation’s survival in an ever changing world. This is not alarmist by any stretch of the imagination, those who think it is, should talk to the police officers who were faced with grenade tossing criminals a few weeks ago.
women are not immune
There is nothing sovereign about a country’s nationals being taken out of that country to face trial in another.
Now I want you all to picture this . Imagine 500 Jamaicans being taken out in handcuffs. They never set foot in the United States but the crimes they committed involved Americans. On that basis they are removed , tried and sentenced and sent to prison only to add to the list of deportees already flooding the Island.
As if that is not scary enough, now imagine terrorists coming to our country as a result of our lax attitude toward crime. They set up shop so they can carry out attacks against America’s Interests or Canadian, French, British or any other Nation’s interests.
How do you think those nations are going to respond to Bombings which kill their nationals?
It behoove Jamaica’s leaders to pull their heads from their asses and stop listening to the Elitist and the ego-maniacal little kings they created to talk about human rights.
It’s time to take the steps Jamaica must take to end this nonsense before it engulfs everyone and turn our country into a terrorists wasteland. What exactly is the reason behind Jamaica’s political leaders refusal to deal effectively with crime ?
Even with the passage of new legislation supposed to send a message to organized criminals, convictions result in J$2000’000 fines or 6 months imprisonment. Conversely those extradited to the United States are sentenced to twenty years for their part in the same crimes.
Clearly the lawmakers are doing the nation’s law abiding citizens a terrible dis-service which will have devastating consequences in the not too distant future. Pretty soon we will have reached a point of no return.
Historic King’s House Jamaica , home of the Governor General.(adapted)
Invest in solid doors and good quality locks on doors and windows. This includes on all sliding glass doors as well. Make it not only difficult but also time consuming for a burglar to gain entry.
Whenever you go outside, lock the door and take the key with you, even if you are just stepping next door or out mowing the backyard.
Don’t put valuables where they can be seen from the window, especially items that can be easily carried.
Be sure your garage door can be secured. Do not leave it open when you are away, an empty garage broadcasts your absence.
When you aren’t home, set a timer set to turn interior lights on and off at varying intervals as though your home was still occupied.
Don’t keep large amounts of cash or really valuable jewelry around the house.
If someone comes to your door asking to use the telephone, make the call yourself. Don’t invite them in.
Don’t hide a spare key under the doormat or under a flower pot. Thieves know all the good hiding places.
Plant thorny bushes under all windows. Trim back any trees or shrubs near doors and windows to eliminate hiding places for would-be thieves.
Invest in a good security system along with motion sensor lights installed out of reach.
Don’t leave ladders outside. Keep any tools that could be used to break in your home safely locked away in a garage or shed.
Get a barking dog or “Beware of Dog” sign. If you own a dog and go out of town, have someone come in and care for your dog in your home.
Always double check doors at night and lock all windows.
Engrave all valuables such as stereos, microwaves, video cameras, with your driver’s license number. Videotape the contents of your home. Keep the video and the list of all valuables in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box.
Two images of police officers caught on camera at the recent Jamaica carnival are drawing diametrically and viscerally different opinion in the way they are perceived.
I have no desire to dive into this debate myself, largely because of the level of energy a debate of this type requires with arguably negligible returns. As is customary the pros and cons are balkanized in their positions which no amount of persuasion is ever going to change. It is on that note that I refuse to get involved, except to point out a few facts.
Senior Cop and reveler. (Image adapted)
It’s one thing to be caught in a snap moment in time as Steve Brown The superintendent is, but the actions of the constable in that video certainly raises more than eyebrows. It raised my blood pressure.
Those who see nothing wrong with the imagery of these two officers argue stridently that the dire need for better police community relations vastly supersede any perceived negatives anyone could point to in these imagery. To bolster their arguments they point to police officers in developed countries engaging in similar conduct. Where the lines are in that thinking, are yet to be defined by supporters. What they never bother to say is that, those developed country’s police departments also have a problem with their officer’s actions when they occur.
NYPD cop daggering.
On the other hand there are those opposed who say we can have good relations with the public without engaging conduct similar to that of that constable . In fact many say the uniform of a police officers is a symbol of respect ‚it should never be degraded . Engaging in behavior of this type they argue , diminishes the authority of the police and places everyone at risk when officers lose focus from the task at hand. All reasonable points , however when we consider the crimes officers have been accused of being engaged in, I wonder whether this is not mild in comparison. It may reasonable be said however that it is exactly actions of this type which has characterized and precipitated the decline in the quality of our police service, not just in Jamaica but in larger countries as well.
It’s hard to see a measurable positive from these images , even as they seem to be becoming par for the course.
The actions of police are always scrutinized, as such officers have a duty to be as circumspect as is humanly possible at all times. Younger officers sometimes get caught up in the moment of an event, and sometimes have eyebrow raising instances in their conduct. Older more seasoned officers do not have such luxury , they know what is expected of them and they have a duty to act accordingly. They are supposed to have built-in reactions for all occurrences without seeming cold uncaring or aloof. The notion that these actions speak to levels of coöperation between police and public is hard to fathom and may very well be testament to the levels to which the JCF has sunk. Many cops remind me back in the day they were afraid to even smoke in their uniform. Conversely my civilian friends are quick to remind me that cops in bars with assault weapons drinking alcohol does not do it for them either.
Revelers will do what they do but officers must maintain a line of decorum..
Is it the end of the world that an officer get caught up in the moment when a gyrating reveler gets way to close? No!! But the officer is there to protect the reveler who may already have had too much to drink, or may have been to high on adrenaline or something else . The officer has to have an imaginary line in his/her head that he/she doesn’t cross and doesn’t allow others to cross. It’s not about being stiff and unfriendly , it is about being aware that as an officer you have a responsibility to be on alert for the protection of all party goers. It is difficult to argue you can be completely alert while engaging in daggering. The fact that it is happening all across different police departments in parts of the world does not mean it’s right.
Police in Boston Mass. reacted immideately bombs went off at the marathon.
Even when we argue that it is critically important to exploit all avenues which will foster better community police relations, we still cannot lose sight of the fact that we are living in dangerous times. On that note officers have to be cognizant that there are people willing to kill other innocent human beings to vent their anger and displeasure at some perceived injustice.. Terrorists are always on the prowl for what are called soft targets . Please do not say this doesn’t happen here. Crime and terror happen wherever opportunities are present.
Bombs went off killing innocent and unsuspecting marathoners.
It is always up to the Police and other first responders to be vigilant and aware , ever ready to leap into action. It is not that easy to act to prevent mass loss of life and to arrest potential killers if as an officer you place yourself in a position in which you become a victim as well. If we set aside the pros and cons of the optics and contemplate only the fundamentals of what is likely to happen in circumstances like these, it’s probably a lot easier to know what side to come down on.
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