Dr Kevin Blake, police commissioner.
The thankless and dangerous job of the JCF
That Savanna-la-Mar earthquake in the late 1950s was a frightening one for me as a small child. I was in the house behind the shop run by our widowed mother. As I felt the place shaking, I ran out into the dark street. A light flashed on red-seamed trousers. Because the police always cast a protective eye on our shop, I knew I would be safe if I grabbed on to that red-seamed trousers leg. The police officer picked me up, took a look, and recognised me as “Mrs Singh’s little girl”. He walked swiftly to the shop and handed me to my mother.
Many years later, on assignment at Caymanas Park in the 80s, I would have long conversations with officers Williams and Whitney. They would always arrive impeccably dressed and were thoroughly professional. Some mornings they would share that they had been in operations the night before, dodging bullets.
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In the 90s I collaborated with Lasco to create the Police Officer of the Year Award and met some of the most inspiring officers. Some of the organisers were Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Neville Wheatle, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) LK Simpson, and a young constable who is now Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Natalie Palmer-Mair. Interestingly, the first Police Officer of the Year was retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Steve McGregor, who is now a politician.
After the 2002 General Election, which had been monitored by representatives of the Carter Centre, they reported that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), led by then Commissioner Francis Forbes, had been exemplary in its work, as were the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) personnel. They declared that there would be no reason for them to monitor any further elections in Jamaica.
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In other projects, I have seen the courage of SSP Ionie Ramsey Nelson, the brilliance of retired DCP Novelette Grant, SSP Stephanie Lindsay, and the compassion of Sergeant Jerr Johnson-Heron who has assisted with distributing care packages for the elderly on behalf of our seniors advocacy organisation. Indeed, the police youth club is the largest youth club in Jamaica and the Law Enforcement Torch Run has earned millions of dollars over several decades for Jamaica’s Special Olympians.
It is, therefore, deeply concerning that our outstanding JCF appears to be under unrelenting attack by the organisation Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ). I am confounded that the current head of the JFJ seems to be unaware of the dangers our police face in their crime-fighting efforts.
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Commissioner Blake’s response
All well-thinking Jamaicans welcomed the creation of Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom), which ensures that the security forces remain professional and ethical. In every organisation you will find the few who ‘let down the side’, and it is important that they be brought to justice.
I must, therefore, quote at length Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake’s response as shared by Jamaica Observer Editor-at-Large Arthur Hall in a report headlined ‘No Apology — Police commissioner slams JFJ; says criminals to be blamed for 50 fatal shootings in 50 days by security forces’.
Commissioner Blake is reported to have said that “….while he supports the view that the number of fatal shootings by the security forces is too high, the focus should be on the criminals who make the decision to challenge members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force [JCF], ‘which is a far more superior force’.”
Hall reported: “He charged that a call for the JCF to be held more accountable is a slap in the face of Indecom, which has a single most important mandate of investigating actions against civilians by members of the security forces.”
Here are excerpts from the commissioner’s response, as quoted by Hall:
“And so, let me encourage Jamaicans for Justice to be more responsible in their public pronouncements, especially when the nation is aware of its members’ proven ability to comprehend the most basic and fundamental principles of security.
“To suggest that fatal shootings numbers can be reduced by anything other than the unwillingness of persons being apprehended to engage in deadly confrontations with members of the security forces is irresponsible, or at best advocating for us to relent in our pursuit,” added Blake.
“He declared that criminals who are intent on killing and maiming will not be left free to hold communities at ransom and in constant fear,” wrote Hall.
“It means we make no apology to stand between these murdering thugs and the people of this country. We also wish to reiterate the idiocy of these criminal elements in seeking to engage the security forces with deadly force and expect not to be responded to with similar force,” said Blake.
“We have had well over a thousand firearm-related arrests each year. Persons have had their day in court, and in some instances freed of the charges against them. They have all lived to see another day simply because they chose not to direct deadly force against our members. We have had police officers and soldiers killed and seriously injured in some of these confrontations.”
“This takes police who would normally be out to protect you, the citizens, off the streets… Yes, we agree that we need to have less fatal shootings and so I call upon JFJ to demonstrate to the public that your care is more for the well-being of our citizens and less for the relevance of your organisation. And it is hard for me to think otherwise when I know JFJ is fully abreast of the facts.
“…I am a full supporter of what Indecom stands for. An effective Indecom assures me that those among us who believe that they are free to break the law will be held to account and be removed from within our ranks. The JCF’s effectiveness depends on this.”
We note that, in comparison to the same period last year, there was a 19 per cent decrease in murders in January and 24 per cent decrease so far this month. We are deeply grateful JCF; stay strong.
Farewell, Archbishop Clarke
We are mourning the passing of one of Jamaica’s most beloved sons: the humble, eloquent Archbishop Emeritus Edgerton Clarke.
Archbishop’s homilies were special — gently delivered but with the fire of the Holy Spirit igniting our spiritual aspirations. In his pastoral work he inspired our youth and showed his caring heart to the elderly. He shared his wisdom on boards of government and civil society organisations and was a past chairman of Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE).
Archbishop Emeritus Clarke passed away peacefully on February 13, one day before his 96th birthday. He served as bishop of Montego Bay for 27 years before being installed as Archbishop of Kingston on November 23, 1994. He retired on February 14, 2004.
The vigil for Archbishop Emeritus Clarke will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Church on Sunday, March 2, and the mass of thanksgiving on Monday, March 3 at Holy Trinity Cathedral will begin with tributes at 1:45 pm.
Deepest condolence to his church family and relatives, especially devoted nieces Rachael Mair-Boxill and Lynda Mair. May he rest in eternal peace.
Jean Lowrie-Chin is an author and executive chair of PROComm, PRODEV, and CCRP. Send comments to lowriechin@aim.com.
Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force on duty in Spanish Town, St Catherine (Naphtali Junior)
The late Archbishop Emeritus Edgerton Clarke (centre) with fellow chairmen of Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections the late Dr Alfred Sangster (left) and constitutional lawyer Lloyd Barnett.
