EIGHT POLICEMEN have been interdicted by Police Commissioner Francis Forbes pending investigations into claims that two of allegedly seven guns found by the police in Central Kingston last Friday have gone missing.
The eight include four members of the Flying Squad and four members of the Caribbean Search Unit who jointly searched the St. Michael's All-Age School on Tower Street, opposite the General Penitentiary in the Rae Town area of Central Kingston, on Friday.
Superintendent A.J. Forbes, who heads the police's Constabulary Communication Network (CCN), told The Gleaner last night the interdictions had been confirmed by Assistant Commissioner in charge of Crime, Osbourne Dyer.
Superintendent Forbes, who spoke to the media at the Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB) office in Kingston on Friday, confirming that five guns were found, told The Gleaner yesterday that it was the information he had been given by the Flying Squad. However, he admitted there were rumours circulating among the police personnel present at the time that seven guns, and not five, had been found.
"It was alleged then by some people who were present that seven guns were found while others were insisting that it was five," Superintendent Forbes said. He said the issue of missing guns was being treated by the force as an allegation pending the investigations and a report from the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).
The official report on the raid, issued on Friday by the police, was that five semi-automatic pistols and 300 assorted rounds ammunition were found at St. Michael's during an extensive police operation. The ammunition and guns were allegedly discovered in one of the lavatories at the school. The firearms included a Ruger pistol owned by a licensed firearm holder who was robbed of $200,000 and his gun by three men in downtown Kingston last November.
They also included a Taurus 9mm and a Heckler and Koch 9mm.
However, since Friday, the official report issued by the police has been disputed by some of the policemen involved in the raid.
"We were called in and we are investigating," confirmed Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Miguel Wynter, who is in charge of the OPR.
DSP Lloyd Haley, who is in charge of the Internal Affairs Division (IAD) and who is directly responsible for the case of what is now termed the "missing guns", said yesterday he had interviewed some of the suspects on Monday and will interview others and record statements through the remainder of the week.
Last Saturday, after news broke that two of the guns had been stolen, it was rumoured that they were returned immediately following a threat from Commissioner Francis Forbes to transfer those suspected of being involved to remote divisions across the island.
DSP Haley said yesterday that no guns were returned.
"From what has been reported to me, the two guns are still missing," he said.
