By Omar Anderson, Gleaner WriterCLAIMING THAT only one policeman has ever been killed while wearing his bullet-proof vest, Police Commissioner Francis Forbes on Monday defended the customised-made vests for saving the lives of at least five others.
The Commissioner's defence of the bullet-proof vests came following Saturday's killing of Police Corporal Warren Smith, and the saving of the life of Constable Mark McDonald, who was injured while wearing his vest.
Both Corporal Smith, who was not wearing his vest, and Constable McDonald, were members of a police party that went to Big Lane in Central Village last Saturday in search of wanted men.
SPECIALLY DESIGNED
Following the corporal's killing, allegations were made that vests given to the police were of an inferior quality. But Commissioner Forbes sought on Monday to disprove the speculation.
According to him, the vests, which are specially designed for policing in Jamaica, are made by Second Chance Manufacturers. He added that the vests also satisfy the California ice-pick test, which is an international standard.
"We have living proofs that the vests work and work effectively," Mr. Forbes told reporters yesterday during a press conference at his office on Old Hope Road in Kingston.
"He (Corporal McFarlane) was instructed on the day (Saturday) to put it on but he chose not to," the Commissioner said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Forbes added that between 2001 and 2004, the Constabulary received 5,600 bullet-proof vests, 500 of which were for policewomen. He said the 5,600 complemented the number of vests the Force previously had, but he quickly noted that a minimal shortfall still existed.
On the weekend, Derrick Smith, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) spokesman on National Security, said he was gravely concerned at the inadequacy of bullet-proof vests.
