Stand-off - Cops, INDECOM at odds over probes
Published:Tuesday | December 21, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter
Tension is mounting between members of the police force and the recently established Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM).
Some police personnel are angry about how INDECOM - established to probe actions of the security forces - has been carrying out investigations into alleged police excesses.
But that is not a worry for the head of INDECOM, Terrence Williams, who has vowed to continue the work despite the concerns of the policemen.
"In the law, I'm going to take every step that I can to uncover the truth in all of these cases that come under investigation," Williams said yesterday.
Details of the dispute started to emerge after it was disclosed that eight policemen are to be charged for refusing to cooperate with INDECOM investigators.
Charges to be laid
The eight, accompanied by their lawyer, yesterday turned up at the Half-Way Tree Criminal Court where it was expected that charges would be laid against them, but the documents were not at the courthouse.
"There was some mix-up in the communications about where they should be, but that is being sorted out," Williams said yesterday.
He promised to provide more details once the arrangements were clarified.
The eight policemen have reportedly refused to cooperate with a probe into the early August shooting death of 16-year-old Derrick 'Crabby' Bolton in Spanish Town, St Catherine.
According to reports, the eight policemen are accused of failing to comply with lawful instructions from INDECOM after they ignored a notice served on them to attend a video identification in relation to the shooting death of Bolton.
The policemen were also given notice to submit statements and to go to INDECOM's offices to answer questions about the shooting, but reportedly failed to do so.
The matter was reported to Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn, who ruled that the policemen should be charged under Section 31 of the INDECOM Act.
Killed in cold blood
Bolton was fatally shot hours after eight persons were killed in Tredegar Park, St Catherine.
The police claim the teenager was killed in a shoot-out, but residents have challenged that story.
According to the residents, Bolton was taken out of a house and killed in cold blood by the policemen, who were seeking a man who also went by the alias 'Crabby'.
This is one of several high-profile cases being investigated by INDECOM.
Williams said the heads of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Defence Force, including the leadership of the Bureau of Special Investigations, which INDECOM is to replace, are cooperating with his organisation.
Not playing ball
However, he hinted that some members of the force were not playing ball.
"One would expect that with any new organisation, there would be some persons who would want to test the resolve and commitment of INDECOM," he said.
According to Williams, "We are of strong resolve, and we are committed to our legal responsibilities."
His comments came minutes after police personnel blasted INDECOM in a discussion with The Gleaner.
The police personnel pointed The Gleaner to head of the Police Federation, Sergeant Raymond Wilson, who would not say much about the issue.
"I can confirm that there is some concern, but we are to have a meeting about it, and I will be able to tell you more after the meeting," Wilson told The Gleaner.
He said the additional details would be provided by today.
The federation represents rank-and-file members of the force, and Wilson has reportedly received several complaints from its members.