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by Jamaica Constabulary on Sunday, January 13, 2013 at 5:17pm ·
The Police High Command notes with concern the increase in fatal shootings
during the first two weeks of this year when compared with the same period
last year.
An analysis conducted into fatal shootings since the start of the year
indicates that this is as a result of improved intelligence-led operational
initiatives such as Operation Blue Storm and our nationally coordinated
Vehicle Check Point Operations, which have been implemented to curb the
movement of armed criminals and the violence they produce, and to prevent
a repeat of the spike in murders experienced this time last year.
Against this background, these operations have resulted in increased
contact with criminal elements. On many of these occasions, they resort to
unprovoked attacks on Police personnel, resulting in shootouts, which lead to
them being injured or killed and Police officers being injured.
However, the net result of these operations is that since the start of 2013,
the country has recorded a 46 per cent decrease in murders (50 in 2012, 27
in 2013) and a 33 per cent decline in shootings (48 in 2012 – 28 in 2013).
Additionally in 2013, 27 persons have been arrested with evidence compared
with 7 in 2012, while 27 illegal guns have been taken off the streets in 2013
compared with 12 in 2012.
It should be remembered that it is these criminal elements who killed over
1000 of our citizens last year, and injured over 1500 more. They do not
hesitate to slaughter persons and to attack the Police when we stand in
defence of citizens.
The ruthlessness of these individuals has continued into the New Year, as
exemplified by some particularly gruesome cases.
The brutal murder of eight-year-old Imani Green, a British national who was
visiting the island, was mercilessly slaughtered in front of family members in
a hail of bullets as gangsters sought to exact revenge on their rivals.The murders of Mr. and Mrs. Rambaran, a hardworking couple from SSt.
Catherine, who after closing their business late one evening last week and
returning home, were pounced upon by criminals who beat Mr. Rambaran
pitilessly before pumping several bullets into him, after which the criminals
turned their guns on his wife, shooting her in the head and neck, killing her
on the spot.
Criminals butchered the well-known and loved businessman Melvin Chung, a
man whose entrepreneurship provided jobs for over five hundred Jamaicans,
and supported the livelihoods of many more.
There is also the case of the Chinese businessman who, in broad daylight,
was shot to death in May Pen, Clarendon by gunmen who robbed him,
and later brazenly turned their weapons on a party of Police officers who
responded to the call for help.
As members of the Constabulary continue to confront those who are
responsible for the kinds of gruesome crimes described before, it must be
anticipated that the superior training and discipline of the security forces will
prevail.
Nevertheless, we sincerely regret all instances of injury and loss of life that
occur during confrontations with the Police.
The Police High Command repeats its appeal to the members to continue
performing their duties with utmost professionalism and respect for the
rights of all, and urges them to exercise restraint, even in the face of
danger, knowing that they do so with the full backing of the Police High
Command. It must be noted too, that these ideals are embodied in the
Constabulary’s Use of Force and Human Rights Policy. Additionally, the JCF
through its internal radio system dispatches daily proactive messages on the
Use of Force to members on patrol.
We wish to assure the public that in all incidents of Police fatal shootings,
we co-operate fully with the Independent Commission of Investigations
(INDECOM).
We urge citizens to continue to support the Police in the lawful execution of
their duties.We are also appealing to all Jamaicans, including the human rights lobby
groups, to turn their voices of influence towards these ruthless criminals,
and appeal to them to stop slaughtering and maiming their fellow citizens
and attacking the Police when they stand in the lawful defence of the
citizens.
By doing so, we will all achieve our vision of making Jamaica a safer and
gentler society.
The Police High Command notes with concern the increase in fatal shootings
during the first two weeks of this year when compared with the same period
last year.
An analysis conducted into fatal shootings since the start of the year
indicates that this is as a result of improved intelligence-led operational
initiatives such as Operation Blue Storm and our nationally coordinated
Vehicle Check Point Operations, which have been implemented to curb the
movement of armed criminals and the violence they produce, and to prevent
a repeat of the spike in murders experienced this time last year.
Against this background, these operations have resulted in increased
contact with criminal elements. On many of these occasions, they resort to
unprovoked attacks on Police personnel, resulting in shootouts, which lead to
them being injured or killed and Police officers being injured.
However, the net result of these operations is that since the start of 2013,
the country has recorded a 46 per cent decrease in murders (50 in 2012, 27
in 2013) and a 33 per cent decline in shootings (48 in 2012 – 28 in 2013).
Additionally in 2013, 27 persons have been arrested with evidence compared
with 7 in 2012, while 27 illegal guns have been taken off the streets in 2013
compared with 12 in 2012.
It should be remembered that it is these criminal elements who killed over
1000 of our citizens last year, and injured over 1500 more. They do not
hesitate to slaughter persons and to attack the Police when we stand in
defence of citizens.
The ruthlessness of these individuals has continued into the New Year, as
exemplified by some particularly gruesome cases.
The brutal murder of eight-year-old Imani Green, a British national who was
visiting the island, was mercilessly slaughtered in front of family members in
a hail of bullets as gangsters sought to exact revenge on their rivals.The murders of Mr. and Mrs. Rambaran, a hardworking couple from SSt.
Catherine, who after closing their business late one evening last week and
returning home, were pounced upon by criminals who beat Mr. Rambaran
pitilessly before pumping several bullets into him, after which the criminals
turned their guns on his wife, shooting her in the head and neck, killing her
on the spot.
Criminals butchered the well-known and loved businessman Melvin Chung, a
man whose entrepreneurship provided jobs for over five hundred Jamaicans,
and supported the livelihoods of many more.
There is also the case of the Chinese businessman who, in broad daylight,
was shot to death in May Pen, Clarendon by gunmen who robbed him,
and later brazenly turned their weapons on a party of Police officers who
responded to the call for help.
As members of the Constabulary continue to confront those who are
responsible for the kinds of gruesome crimes described before, it must be
anticipated that the superior training and discipline of the security forces will
prevail.
Nevertheless, we sincerely regret all instances of injury and loss of life that
occur during confrontations with the Police.
The Police High Command repeats its appeal to the members to continue
performing their duties with utmost professionalism and respect for the
rights of all, and urges them to exercise restraint, even in the face of
danger, knowing that they do so with the full backing of the Police High
Command. It must be noted too, that these ideals are embodied in the
Constabulary’s Use of Force and Human Rights Policy. Additionally, the JCF
through its internal radio system dispatches daily proactive messages on the
Use of Force to members on patrol.
We wish to assure the public that in all incidents of Police fatal shootings,
we co-operate fully with the Independent Commission of Investigations
(INDECOM).
We urge citizens to continue to support the Police in the lawful execution of
their duties.We are also appealing to all Jamaicans, including the human rights lobby
groups, to turn their voices of influence towards these ruthless criminals,
and appeal to them to stop slaughtering and maiming their fellow citizens
and attacking the Police when they stand in the lawful defence of the
citizens.
By doing so, we will all achieve our vision of making Jamaica a safer and
gentler society.
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