The new Bruce Golding-led administration, has, within a matter of days, found itself confronted with the old spectre of controversial police killings of civilians. The incidents in St. Thomas and St. James reported last week, which left three people dead, have sparked the usual round of condemnation, protests, charges, countercharges and investigations. This is another of the early tests for the Government.
The Minister of National Security, Derrick Smith, and by extension the Government, will now have to act with the authority they have been given to do something about the problem. It is not enough to express concern and outrage. The Government's decision to establish a single, independent authority to probe allegations of police abuse is a move in the right direction. This, however, will, at best, offer some medium- to long-term solutions.
Whatever visions Mr. Smith and the Government have about a professional police force acting with respect and restraint when dealing with civilians, they will find themselves confronting an ingrained culture that in general, tolerates and protects bad behaviour within their ranks. It will not be easily rooted out.
The new Government may well find that it is being forced to ease up any pressure being brought to bear on bad policemen or face losing the cooperation of significant segments of the constabulary. By statements as well as action, the Government must demonstrate that it supports courageous policemen and women who put their lives in danger every day in the service of their country, and at the same time, make it clear that it will not curry favour with rogue cops just to court cheap popularity.
In the same vein, the leadership and lower-rank members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force need to appreciate the extent to which goodwill is undermined when there is the strong suspicion of cover-up and protection of their colleagues who either abuse their authority or engage in extra-judicial killings. These actions create alienation from the communities they must serve, increase hostility towards them, and make their job that much more difficult.
We do not accept that the police are always wrong, that every time people claim police brutality that this is so. Civilians - like the police - are known to close ranks to protect their own, however criminal their behaviour is. But we do believe the long history of police abuse, witnessed and documented by credible eyewitnesses, points to an all-too-common mindset that must be addressed and corrected urgently. This has been going on for too long. We cannot continue like this.
The stress and strain of policing in Jamaica cannot be used as an excuse to allow the frequent abuse of civilians. Taxpayers have a right to expect professionalism from the security forces in protecting life and property, and the proper investigation of criminal suspects leading to arrests and convictions.
Given some of the past antagonisms, the new political administration may have to work especially hard at winning the trust and confidence of the members of the security forces who may be sceptical about new paradigms being articulated. But this it must do, to ensure that good order is respected throughout the country.
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