The Justice and Peace Commission (JPC) of the Roman Catholic Church has condemned the death of Dameon Belgrave from gunfire by members of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and looks forward to an appropriate response from police management.
Bishop Francis Alleyne, Chairman of the Commission, said like the killing of Shaquille Grant in Agricola, “there appears to be a willing recklessness to resort to the use of deadly force first, and ask (questions) later. This is unacceptable in a civilized society, and must be deplored in the sternest terms.”
In a press release, the JPC said given the number and circumstances of police shootings, several questions must be raised:
What do police procedures call for in the resort to and use of deadly force? What is the training given to armed ranks as to escalation and restraint? How many more stand to be killed before existing approaches and mindsets to law enforcement are overhauled? The Commission further questioned why post-shooting procedures such as swabbing and safeguarding ballistics evidence, seem to be recognised mainly in the breach?
The JPC says it recognises that police have a demanding mandate; that life threatening circumstances rush forward unannounced; and that its members walk a fine line daily but it is that line that separates the rule of law from the presence of anarchy, the release said. The group maintains that something is seriously wrong with many aspects of the too many police-involved shootings. “It cannot, and must not continue,” the group said.
