At a time when policing tactics have come under increasing scrutiny because of the proliferation of smart recording devices, and social media platforms which disseminate images across the globe in nano seconds, it is understandable that passions are inflamed.
What is not understandable under any circumstances is citizens of any country deciding to get into physical fights with law enforcement officers.
Let me be clear , even though it probably will not alter the views of those who harbor single-minded hatred for the rule of law and by extension those who enforce the laws.
♦The police has a duty to be respectful to the citizens they serve>.
♦ Citizens have a responsibility to be respectful and coöperative with law-enforcement when they are operating lawfully.
Let me be clear , even though it probably will not alter the views of those who harbor single-minded hatred for the rule of law and by extension those who enforce the laws.
♦The police has a duty to be respectful to the citizens they serve>.
♦ Citizens have a responsibility to be respectful and coöperative with law-enforcement when they are operating lawfully.
It cannot be overstated that there are bad police officers across the globe. We already know that, as a consequence in the same way we do not need to highlight that there are many good cops when we deal with police abuse , we do not need to speak about bad police when we see citizens acting contrary to their responsibilities as citizens toward police.
Over the many years of writing about my experiences as a police officer, I repeatedly pointed to the vast disparity in the lack of support Jamaica’s police officers get as against how other countries treat their officers.
I have pointed to the over 6 decades long assault on the rule of law by those who hold political power on both sides of the political divide. Those in so called civil society, which I find a laughable oxymoron. The media elites who shape opinion based on their narrow interests and even those who should see themselves as part of the rule of law but doesn’t act accordingly. I speak in this regard about the liberal activists who pass as judges , (with the exception of a few).
I am partial to the rule of law, so I am prepared to be deferential to those who are against the rule of law. I am prepared to listen to the suggestions of those who have ideas on how we can maintain civil societies without the rule of law, or those who enforce the laws?
Once we get past that particular hurdle, which I expect we will since most of us are sane reasonable people. My next question is how do we enforce our laws without police officers?
Again I take the liberty in assuming that even the most rabid anti-police antagonists will conclude that we need police officers.
Again I take the liberty in assuming that even the most rabid anti-police antagonists will conclude that we need police officers.
THAT IS WHERE THE CONVERSATION NEEDS TO START
I do not need to be reminded or lectured about the unruly nature of Jamaicans. I have written extensively about how Jamaicans literally assault police officers to test their toughness, to test their resolve, to test their mettle, before they accord officers respect.
Officers so tested, must demonstrate the necessary mettle decisively to make sure that those offenders face a court of law.
Officers so tested, must demonstrate the necessary mettle decisively to make sure that those offenders face a court of law.
Replace the ability of the police to aggressively take on criminal elements and replace it with a crime enhancement act which encourages citizens to assault and kill our police officers, defeats the purpose for the few Jamaicans left who want to live in a crime free society.
That is what the INDECOM Act does .
That is what the INDECOM Act does .
We can have a legitimate conversation around policing tactics. We definitely need to have a respectful and in-depth conversation about bad policing concepts, not just in Jamaica or the United States, but in other countries where citizens continue to resist abusive and unlawful behavior by police.
What we cannot have is a situation in which even as we have those conversations we open the doors and allow those who would destroy our communities through murder and mayhem to feel empowered.
Regardless of the mambo-jumbo smart ass advice that is out there on social media and even in the corporate media,once the police tells you you are under arrest you must comply. When you refuse to be arrested you and only you decide that you want to be roughed up. The onus is on members of the public to surrender to being arrested that is the law universally. Police officers are empowered to use all necessary force to effect an arrest.
Regardless of the mambo-jumbo smart ass advice that is out there on social media and even in the corporate media,once the police tells you you are under arrest you must comply. When you refuse to be arrested you and only you decide that you want to be roughed up. The onus is on members of the public to surrender to being arrested that is the law universally. Police officers are empowered to use all necessary force to effect an arrest.
Citizens in Jamaica have a litany of agencies and organizations militating on their behalf. It is a veritable cottage industry militating against police in Jamaica, clearly those who do so have no solution to the problems which face the police or the nation as a whole.
More money and support is poured directly into agencies which support those who break the laws than is allotted to fighting crime. Hence there is no basis for not surrendering to an arrest and fighting it out in court. The criminal courts literally give new meaning to the term criminal courts.
Withing that system of corruption, incompetence and collusion criminals have tremendous support.
Withing that system of corruption, incompetence and collusion criminals have tremendous support.
Modern advancements in technology has given all of us average citizens a tremendous boost when we wish to claim police abuse. We should use those advancements wisely and judiciously , We should never for one moment assume that those technological advancements are tools which empowers us to be disrespectful , abusive , or violent to police officers doing their lawful duties.
What kind of societies are we seeking to build when we assault and abuse our police officers? It does not matter where in the world we live.
Police officers have a job to do . We must expect them to act respectfully, we should accept nothing less.
Conversely all of us citizens have responsibilities, those responsibilities include being respectful to the police as well.
Police officers have a job to do . We must expect them to act respectfully, we should accept nothing less.
Conversely all of us citizens have responsibilities, those responsibilities include being respectful to the police as well.
Jamaicans have no choice but to obey laws when they arrive in the United States, England , Canada or any other nation, including CARICOM countries. Those who don’t end up on a flight back home.
So what is the reason so many Jamaicans act like rabid animals ?
Simply because they are allowed to get away with it !!!
So what is the reason so many Jamaicans act like rabid animals ?
Simply because they are allowed to get away with it !!!