(Jamaica Gleaner) A mixture of horror, fury and disgust has greeted a video clip showing a man being fatally shot by a group of policemen while he was subdued and lying on the ground.
The three policemen have been arrested based on instructions from Police Commissioner Owen Ellington, but that has not quieted the voices crying shame since the airing of the videotape recorded by a private citizen.
For years, allegations have flown unceasingly about police excesses, but the incident last Thursday in Buckfield, St Ann, brought a new wave of revulsion across the island.
The graphic image, which was shown on television on Friday, became a main talking point on Saturday, with the policemen being described as cowardly and inhumane, while the citizen who shot the video is being hailed as a hero.
The leadership of the business community, which in recent months has been energetically supporting the security forces, on Saturday appeared to be enraged by this clear display of police excesses.
“The JCC (Jamaica Chamber of Commerce) and I condemn the actions of the policemen who acted outside of the law,” declared JCC head, Milton Samuda.
“This serves to undermine the trust and confidence of the citizenry in members of the force,” said an obviously angry Samuda.
“I am particularly grieved that this should happen at a time when the resolute and professional conduct of members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force in recent events has served to do so much good in the efforts to restore the trust and confidence in all policemen.”
weed out bad cops
Samuda urged law-abiding policemen and women to play their part in weeding out those who would act illegally and bring the force into disrepute while imperilling the safety and life of citizens.
He said the action of the person who recorded the video exemplifies the type of responsibility that citizens must display in safeguarding their rights and the rights of others.
Samuda lamented that the act was more difficult to accept because it was perpetrated by those sworn to serve and protect.
It was a similar story from Convener for Families Against State Terrorism, Yvonne McCalla-Sobers, who appeared to be particularly revolted by what, she said, were indications that the policemen involved were being cheered on by other Jamaicans.
McCalla-Sobers said the policemen’s conduct, as well as the attitudes of some Jamaicans, reflect the magnitude of the disregard for the sanctity of life.
“The video shown on television on the shooting of a man shows the magnitude of the problem in terms of public trust. There were the police being cheered, showing how Jamaicans view life,” McCalla-Sobers lamented.
“The police commissioner has work to do and he is to be on top of that, but we also need to address the disregard for life as well as the disregard for the justice system … . This points to a problem that needs to be solved quickly and urgently,” she stressed.
“We are horrified, not shocked,” declared Executive Director of Jamaicans for Justice, Dr Carolyn Gomes.
“We believe that this has been happening for a long time and we have in our files, cases in which police beat, abuse, shoot and then lie at will,” Gomes told The Sunday Gleaner.
Gomes was quick to commend Ellington for his swift response but declared that it was time for action.
“We can no longer stick our heads in the sand and pretend that it is not happening,” Gomes declared.
Gomes charged that the “botched transition process” of the 17-year-old Police Public Complaints Authority is symptomatic of the poor treatment and lack of regard that is paid to the process of investigating police abuse.
Ellington ordered the immediate arrest of the policemen who were caught in the video and instructed that stop orders be placed on them at all ports.
One of the three was interviewed by investigators from the police’s Bureau of Special Investigations on Saturday. The others are slated to be interviewed shortly.
The policemen claimed that they had gone to Buckfield in search of Ian Lloyd who had fatally stabbed Loveta Wilson.
According to the police, while they were trying to apprehend Lloyd, he attacked them with stones and bottles, injuring four members of the party.
It was further reported that Lloyd stabbed at one of the cops and was fatally shot.
But the amateur video clearly shows Lloyd on the ground being beaten by the cops before he was shot.
