THE EDITOR, Sir:THE IMAGE of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) suffers each time one or more of its members on front line duty uses bad judgement in the execution of his/her duties.
The JCF exists to protect and serve the citizens of Jamaica. The policemen and policewomen that serve in the JCF must ensure that they strive to, as far as possible, carry out their duties in a lawful and responsible manner. There is no doubt that policemen and policewomen on front line duty face many challenges on a daily basis, because of the pervasiveness of crime throughout the society. However, this is no excuse for them to endanger the lives of innocent citizens in the process of carrying out their duties.
Dangerous criminals must be hunted down and captured by the police, but the methodology employed in doing so must put primary emphasis on preserving the lives of innocent citizens. It seems to me that policemen and/or policewomen who choose to use extremist methods in the execution of their duties put little premium on innocent lives!
The "good have to suffer for the bad" approach to crime fighting in Jamaica must end. The good should never have to suffer for the bad in crime fighting because this defeats the very purpose of crime fighting in the first place, i.e. to serve and protect citizens. Whenever a policeman shoots at a criminal or suspected criminal in a crowd of persons, it shows a wanton disregard for citizens and their rights.
The capture and arrest of a criminal should never be used to justify acts of recklessness on the part of the police. The degree to which the public distrusts the JCF and its members is the degree to which dangerous criminals will become that much more empowered.
I am, etc.,
PATRICK A. GALLIMORE
pagalley@hotmail.com
Via Go-Jamaica
