POLICEMEN ARE trained to use their firearms as a last resort after conventional methods have been tried and have failed, says Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mervin McNabb, firearms instructor at the Police Academy, Twickenham Park.
DSP McNabb was answering questions from counsel for the Public Defender, Earl Witter, at Thursday's sitting of the West Kingston Enquiry.
The training officer gave his answers after the Commissioner agreed to allow Mr. Witter to question him on the instructors' notes used by training officers at the Police Academy. But Leslie Harper, attorney for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), objected to making public the notes.
DSP McNabb said that where it is reasonable, the police should give an oral warning before firing their weapons and that casualties resulting from the firing of their weapons should be given medical attention as urgently as possible.
He also admitted that the 50 calibre Barrett sub-machine guns used by the police, was mainly used as a military weapon abroad, as it is an extremely powerful weapon and can discharge explosives.
DSP McNabb also admitted that although the Force Orders require all approximately 7,000 policemen to receive annual refresher training, only over 3,000 had received such training over the past few years.
Mr. Witter also sought to get some answers from DSP McNabb about the teaching of moral responsibilities as required by the Force Orders.
Mr. Witter said that the public should have an interest in whether those rules were being adhered to and the Commission should have a thorough interest in the matter and report its findings accordingly.
Leslie Harper, one of the lawyers for the police, told the Commissioners that the police force, being a security organisation, any material regarding the training of policemen should not be made public and if material regarding the training is to be used it should be in camera.
Mr. Witter: I can only, with respect, confess my disappointment that my learned friend considers that instructions given to recruits and or members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force concerning their moral responsibilities in the use of firearms, is a matter fit to be heard, so to speak, in secret.
Chairman of the Coimission, Julias Isaac suggested that the Commissioners take a break and study the application.
When the Commissioners returned, Mr. Isaac said that they would allow Mr. Witter to question the DSP on the matter of the moral responsibilities, but not on the use of force. However, Mr. Witter said that he needed time to study the notes before he could ask the appropriate questions. He was given 10 minutes in which to do so, although he protested that the time was too short.
Mr. Witter suggested that the notes be taken into evidence as an exhibit, but Mr. Isaac said that he did see the need to do that.
