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Don't know if conditions have improved since the article was published in July 2009.
Poor working conditions in Flying Squad Headquarters
22 July 2009
KARYL WALKER, Crime/Court Desk Co-ordinator walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com Thursday, July 23, 2009
DEAD pigeons, rat droppings, a rotting roof and unbearable heat have caused officers at the Flying Squad Headquarters to beg for a reprieve from their hellish working conditions. A broken face basin in the Flying Squad bathroom. (Photos: Karl McLarty)
Head of the Flying Squad Superintendent Cornwall 'Bigga' Ford first highlighted the problem at a recent Monday Exchange meeting at the Observer offices, explaining that the 70 officers under his command were working in less than desirable conditions.
A visit by this reporter showed the East Queen Street offices to be greatly in need of repair, with a checklist of problems ranging from an obvious rat infestation to an overwhelming sewage stench.
"These are the conditions in which we work. It is very hard to concentrate in this heat," one cop who did not want to be identified said. A dead pigeon on the second floor of the Flying Squad.On entering the area where the Flying Squad detectives work, the heat is almost unbearable despite several ceiling and wall fans inside the main hall.
But the heat seems to be the least of the cops' woes.A repugnant stench emanates from a stream of fluid which trickles past one side of the building. In the bathrooms, some face basins are detached from the wall and dangle dangerously. The toilets and urinals are stained brown and a stench of waste lingers in the air."We feel uncomfortable using these facilities.
It is an insult to our professionalism," the cop went on. A storage room for stolen car parts and other items seized by Flying Squad officers is cramped and dusty and sports rat droppings in abundance. The roof of the building needs repair. The roof of the building needs repair.
The roof of the first floor of the building is damaged and telephone wires hang loosely at points on the building.But the worst is the unused second floor of the building. A dead pigeon showed evidence that a flock of the birds have taken up residence in a section of the rotting roof.
There are papers, files and old furniture strewn about and large rats traipse through the building, oblivious to the humans.
Poor working conditions in Flying Squad Headquarters
22 July 2009
KARYL WALKER, Crime/Court Desk Co-ordinator walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com Thursday, July 23, 2009
DEAD pigeons, rat droppings, a rotting roof and unbearable heat have caused officers at the Flying Squad Headquarters to beg for a reprieve from their hellish working conditions. A broken face basin in the Flying Squad bathroom. (Photos: Karl McLarty)
Head of the Flying Squad Superintendent Cornwall 'Bigga' Ford first highlighted the problem at a recent Monday Exchange meeting at the Observer offices, explaining that the 70 officers under his command were working in less than desirable conditions.
A visit by this reporter showed the East Queen Street offices to be greatly in need of repair, with a checklist of problems ranging from an obvious rat infestation to an overwhelming sewage stench.
"These are the conditions in which we work. It is very hard to concentrate in this heat," one cop who did not want to be identified said. A dead pigeon on the second floor of the Flying Squad.On entering the area where the Flying Squad detectives work, the heat is almost unbearable despite several ceiling and wall fans inside the main hall.
But the heat seems to be the least of the cops' woes.A repugnant stench emanates from a stream of fluid which trickles past one side of the building. In the bathrooms, some face basins are detached from the wall and dangle dangerously. The toilets and urinals are stained brown and a stench of waste lingers in the air."We feel uncomfortable using these facilities.
It is an insult to our professionalism," the cop went on. A storage room for stolen car parts and other items seized by Flying Squad officers is cramped and dusty and sports rat droppings in abundance. The roof of the building needs repair. The roof of the building needs repair.
The roof of the first floor of the building is damaged and telephone wires hang loosely at points on the building.But the worst is the unused second floor of the building. A dead pigeon showed evidence that a flock of the birds have taken up residence in a section of the rotting roof.
There are papers, files and old furniture strewn about and large rats traipse through the building, oblivious to the humans.
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