Omar Anderson, Freelance Reporter
WAYWARD COPS in the Jamaica Constabulary continue to keep their internal investigative machinery busy unravelling charges of corruption, which members of the public and even their own have levelled against them.
Data from the police's Internal Affairs Division (IAD), which investigates allegations of corruption, revealed that the charges have tripled this year, when compared to last year. Although only 27 cases of mostly bribery involving some constables and corporals are officially on the books, the police are also investigating allegations against some police officers who rank above constables and corporals, which range from taking bribes to selling gun licences and their association with the illegal drug trade.
Although bribery and involvement in the illegal drug trade feature heavily in the cases of corruption, the IAD last week ruled out low salary as a temptation for good cops to go bad.
Instead, Deputy Superintendent of Police DSP Lloyd Haley, who is in charge of the IAD, said that it might be due to the low level of responsibility in the case of constables and corporals.
"I don't think salary is a cause at all," said DSP Haley.
Constables earn approximately $30,000 per month before tax and corporals earn approximately $35,000 per month before tax.
"I believe it's an individual problem, and the reason why you hardly have sergeants and higher-ranking police being involved in corruption is because they are in supervisory roles which bring a certain amount of responsibility," DSP Haley said.
Of the 27 corruption cases reported against the police so far this year, seven policemen have already been arrested and charged, with one of them being convicted after being nabbed in a sting operations. The number of cases tripled last year's figure and more than doubled the number of reports citizens lodged in 2000. There were eight reports last year and nine in 2000.
Meanwhile, among the corruption probe still on include claims that known drug dealers and other persons of questionable character were being issued with gun licences.
The allegations are that gun licences could be had from some police officers for fees ranging from $60,000 to $80,000.
The increased corruption reports against the police this year coincide with several recent corruption accusations being levelled at the police. The IAD is also suggesting that the significant increase in this year's number of corruption reports against the police might be due to the public becoming more aware of its rights.
"It could be that there's more awareness of the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR)," DSP Haley. "This could have been brought on by matters which have been highlighted in the past."
The OPR is the umbrella investigating body for the IAD and the Police Complaints Division.
Police sources said there's usually a nine-month suspended sentence for corruption convictions, as the imposition of a higher sentence might be deemed excessive when the subsequent loss of the policeman's or woman's job is taken into consideration.
Meanwhile, of the nine cases reported two years ago, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ruled that five of the policemen should be charged. Of the five cases, four of the lawmen have been convicted.
Last year, the DPP ruled that five policemen should be arrested and charged, and of that number, three policemen were brought before the court and convicted.
"Some cases are still being investigated while the others are with the DPP pending rulings from him," said a police source. The source confirmed DSP Haley's theory that the unusual number of corruption reports against the police so far this year, might be due to citizens becoming more aware of their rights through the police's recently-launched Citizens' Charter.
