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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>ISCF cop kills mechanic in Half-Way-Tree</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>BY PAUL HENRY Sunday Observer staff reporter editorial@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, April 01, 2007
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<P class=StoryText align=justify>A member of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) fatally shot a 32-year-old mechanic at the Portmore bus stop in Half-Way-Tree yesterday evening, causing a traffic pile-up for some hours and cries of "murder" from onlookers.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The shooting of Portmore, St Catherine resident Trevor Anderson not only angered onlookers, it also drew the ire of a senior member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force who was on the scene.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The cop, who was not in uniform and who declined to be named, described the behaviour of some special constables as "mad dog" and "aggressive".
The official police report said that at around 5:45 pm Anderson was driving his Toyota Corolla motor car in the vicinity of the Portmore bus stop when a member of the ISCF signalled him to stop. Anderson, the police said, failed to comply and a special constable fired a shot through the driver's side of the windscreen from his M16 rifle, hitting Anderson in the chest.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Anderson, a well-known mechanic in the Half-Way-Tree area, was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead, the police said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>However, a man claiming to be an eyewitness said that Anderson was parked at a cane vendor at the Portmore bus stop when members of the ISCF on the scene enquired about the ownership of the car. Anderson, who the witness said was making a purchase with a thousand dollar note, answered "No disrespect, boss, mi a go move it". The man said that while Anderson was attempting to drive away, the specials blocked him and at that point one of them placed his rifle on the windscreen and fired on Anderson.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The man claimed also that while Anderson was being placed in another car to be taken to the hospital, the specials tried to prevent his removal. Blood gushed from Anderson's chest as he was removed from his car that was seriously damaged after it crashed into a utility post about 100 feet from where Anderson was shot, said the witness.
"A murder dem murder the man," exclaimed the man.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The police officer on the scene who refused to give his name was caustic in his criticism of the ISCF cops. "Some of them are too aggressive," he said. "We have been getting a lot of complaints about them. People are complaining about their behaviour and when senior members of the JCF talk to them they don't like it. They are even aggressive towards us. They do these things all the while and people blame us."<P class=StoryText align=justify>The obviously disgusted cop said that while some specials are doing a good job, "some of them are aggressive and behave like mad dogs. The only way we can keep them in check is to have inspectors from among their own ranks out there to supervise them."
"Even the sergeants among them behave like mad dogs most time," the cop continued. "That man is lucky that he never injured more people in this evening traffic when he discharged his weapon like that."<P class=StoryText align=justify>Up to 8 o'clock last night when the Sunday Observer left the scene, the section of Hagley Park Road between Constant Spring and Eastwood Park roads was blocked off by the police, who were still conducting their investigation.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Pedestrians wanting to get from one point to the other in the cordoned area had to walk through the Oakton Plaza, then jump a wall onto the adjacent Half-Way-Tree Fire Station premises before making their way to the roadway.
<SPAN class=Subheadline></SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>BY PAUL HENRY Sunday Observer staff reporter editorial@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, April 01, 2007
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P class=StoryText align=justify>A member of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) fatally shot a 32-year-old mechanic at the Portmore bus stop in Half-Way-Tree yesterday evening, causing a traffic pile-up for some hours and cries of "murder" from onlookers.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The shooting of Portmore, St Catherine resident Trevor Anderson not only angered onlookers, it also drew the ire of a senior member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force who was on the scene.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The cop, who was not in uniform and who declined to be named, described the behaviour of some special constables as "mad dog" and "aggressive".
The official police report said that at around 5:45 pm Anderson was driving his Toyota Corolla motor car in the vicinity of the Portmore bus stop when a member of the ISCF signalled him to stop. Anderson, the police said, failed to comply and a special constable fired a shot through the driver's side of the windscreen from his M16 rifle, hitting Anderson in the chest.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Anderson, a well-known mechanic in the Half-Way-Tree area, was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead, the police said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>However, a man claiming to be an eyewitness said that Anderson was parked at a cane vendor at the Portmore bus stop when members of the ISCF on the scene enquired about the ownership of the car. Anderson, who the witness said was making a purchase with a thousand dollar note, answered "No disrespect, boss, mi a go move it". The man said that while Anderson was attempting to drive away, the specials blocked him and at that point one of them placed his rifle on the windscreen and fired on Anderson.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The man claimed also that while Anderson was being placed in another car to be taken to the hospital, the specials tried to prevent his removal. Blood gushed from Anderson's chest as he was removed from his car that was seriously damaged after it crashed into a utility post about 100 feet from where Anderson was shot, said the witness.
"A murder dem murder the man," exclaimed the man.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The police officer on the scene who refused to give his name was caustic in his criticism of the ISCF cops. "Some of them are too aggressive," he said. "We have been getting a lot of complaints about them. People are complaining about their behaviour and when senior members of the JCF talk to them they don't like it. They are even aggressive towards us. They do these things all the while and people blame us."<P class=StoryText align=justify>The obviously disgusted cop said that while some specials are doing a good job, "some of them are aggressive and behave like mad dogs. The only way we can keep them in check is to have inspectors from among their own ranks out there to supervise them."
"Even the sergeants among them behave like mad dogs most time," the cop continued. "That man is lucky that he never injured more people in this evening traffic when he discharged his weapon like that."<P class=StoryText align=justify>Up to 8 o'clock last night when the Sunday Observer left the scene, the section of Hagley Park Road between Constant Spring and Eastwood Park roads was blocked off by the police, who were still conducting their investigation.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Pedestrians wanting to get from one point to the other in the cordoned area had to walk through the Oakton Plaza, then jump a wall onto the adjacent Half-Way-Tree Fire Station premises before making their way to the roadway.
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