POLICE SPECIAL squads, anywhere, usually run into trouble unless they are carefully selected, well-trained, led by the best of experienced professionals and are continually and closely supervised. In some jurisdictions, they are critically evaluated and rotated periodically to less stressful duty.
Whenever these special squads use deadly force, their actions should be able to stand up to the most vigorous and thorough review, notwithstanding the nature of some assignments which can at times call for split-second life or death decisions. If they fail post-operation scrutiny and are found to have taken part in reckless or indiscriminate shooting, then they should suffer the consequences dictated either by administrative discipline or a court of law. It should be no less so in Jamaica.
Policing in Jamaica is sometimes dangerous, with many a policeman having to face, in the line of duty, ruthless felons shooting at them with assault rifles.
But even with violent crime in Jamaica rearing its murderous head, this is not the time for seemingly autonomous, special police squads to be let loose on the citizenry. Police special squads which are driven by operations statistics and characterised as excessively hostile and confrontational, and are perceived as taking no prisoners, will not be successful either in reducing crime or earning the confidence of the public.
What is needed is for community policing to be extended widely and rapidly and for the various police divisions to start communicating more effectively with the communities they serve.
In June 2000, Louis J. Freeh, who was then Director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), identified the core values which, he said, need to be preserved and defended by the bureau in performing its statutory missions.
He explained: "Respect for the dignity of all whom we protect reminds us to wield law enforcement powers with restraint and to recognise the natural human tendency to be corrupted by power and to become callous in its exercise. Fairness and compassion ensure that we treat everyone with the highest regard for constitution, civil and human rights. Personal and institutional integrity reinforce each other and are owed to the nation in exchange for the sacred trust and great authority conferred upon us."
This is as applicable to the FBI as it is to the Jamaica Constabulary in September 2003. And it is worthy of emulation in light of the ill-conceived calls, perhaps prompted by hysteria, for a return of the disbanded Crime Management Unit with its emphasis on brute-force policing.
More and more members of the Jamaican Constabulary are beginning to realise that they too must obey the law that be you ever so high, the law is above you.
And there is one other lesson that must be learned fast it is that the end never justifies the means.
