THE POLICE Public Complaints Authority (PPCA) is inviting members of the public to register complaints about the killing of seven men in Braeton, St. Catherine on Wednesday, March 14.
Reports can be made to its fourth floor office at the Kingston Mall, 12 Ocean Boulevard, the Authority said. The PPCA is opened between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and can be reached at 967-3603, 967-4063 or 1-888-367-4357.
The PPCA is an independent body set up to investigate controversial shootings in which the police are involved.
Meanwhile the Portmore Ministers' Fraternal (PMF) has called on residents of the area with information on the killings to give statements to the investigating authorities.
The Fraternal said that it was "deeply moved" by the loss of the seven lives as well as "the loss of life everyday through careless and reckless means on our streets, or deliberate and malicious schemes in domestic and civic interaction."
The Fraternal also expressed sympathy to the families of Mr. Keith Morris, Principal of Hartlands All-Age School, Corporal Selvyn English, Corporal Duane Richards and Constable Dwight Gibson, policemen and all others who have had sudden and unexpected losses of similar nature.
"We call upon all those who can offer any evidence as eyewitnesses to come forward and give statements to the investigating authorities, and not to surrender into silence of retreat. We are praying that existing mechanisms for investigating this matter will properly conclude their work, so that the nation may have full understanding in this issue.
The statement signed by the Fraternal's vice-chairman Rev'd Errol Wright said there were many issues to be addressed by society, arising from the Braeton killings.
"..that we become a people who will resist the temptation to enforce justice by unjust means or else to uphold the law by undermining the law. None of us dare applaud the death of any human being, and none of us dare, by our words or posture, contribute to building a society where criminality and wrongdoing are understood to be supported in any way," the group of pastors said.
