Letter of the Day | Commissioner Blake cannot lecture Jamaica on humanity while avoiding accountability

THE EDITOR, Madam:
Police Commissioner Kevin Blake’s response to the fatal shooting of Latoya Bulgin was tone-deaf, evasive, and unbecoming of an officer entrusted with national moral authority.

At a moment demanding humility, compassion, and a clear commitment to accountability, the commissioner instead delivered what sounded like an institutional defence aimed at softening public outrage and shielding the Jamaica Constabulary Force from scrutiny.

Jamaicans are not fools.

Public anger did not arise from hostility towards the police, but from witnessing a woman seated in a vehicle shot in broad daylight under circumstances many view as reckless and disproportionate. The subsequent handling of her body deepened national trauma and further eroded confidence.

Yet, rather than confronting this reality, Commissioner Blake emphasised the “psychological burden” on officers making “split-second decisions”.

This framing is misleading. The events in Granville cannot be reduced to a reflexive decision under pressure. Jamaica has heard this justification too often; it has become the default response whenever state violence shocks the public conscience.

While highlighting officers’ emotional strain, the commissioner ignored the enduring trauma experienced by Bulgin’s family, her children, and a nation forced to witness another contested killing.

His warning against “ignoring the conditions” faced by police also undermines legitimate public concerns and reflects an institution still uneasy with accountability.

Many believe that, without video evidence, the incident might have joined countless unresolved cases of alleged police excess. This perception underscores the deeper crisis facing the JCF: a collapse of public trust.

A truly responsible response would have affirmed the sanctity of life, acknowledged public grief, and reassured citizens that accountability will prevail.

Instead, the commissioner appeared more focused on defending the institution than addressing national outrage.

Jamaicans are not demanding perfection from the police; they are demanding restraint, professionalism, and justice.

O. DAVE ALLEN