THE REVERBERATIONS from Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas' statement to the 62nd annual conference of the Jamaica Police Federation are profound and alarming.
His confirmation of the height, depth and breadth of criminality within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is frightening in its implications. For if the criminals within the Force are as far up the chain of command as the Commissioner has charged, then he should have good reason to be worried. Whom can he trust with operational information and plans?
The Commissioner's statement also raises questions about the management savvy of the JCF. According to the Commissioner, not only are policemen and women involved in drug-running, but some are chief operatives controlling and directing activities. How much better would it have been had Mr. Thomas been able to say, that on the basis of intelligence gathered and covert operations implemented, some number of persons were arrested and charged and their cases are now in court?
His conference statement confirmed anecdotal reports that have long fingered crooked policemen to be embedded in the Force. Years ago when ganja was king, policemen were reported occasionally to shut down large segments of roadways along the northcoast to allow small aircraft to land for loading of the weed. The assurance the public needs is that arrests have been made and the convicted bad eggs kicked out.
The Commissioner's statement was specific in the examples cited as to the number of rounds of ammunition and type of bullets being supplied for specific guns. In fact, he said on " a regular basis", police personnel meet "known criminals and tell them about the mobilisation available to the police". Come now Mr. Thomas! This suggests that surveillance over time has determined this. What has been done?
We note his statement to The Gleaner that the Professional Standards Branch (PSB) "was probing" several police personnel implicated in corrupt acts. This, unfortunately is cold comfort.
The Commissioner's statement underscores the imperative of
having an independent body to investigate allegations of corruption with the JCF.
At the very least, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica's recommendation for the establishment of a Police Oversight Authority is more urgent than ever.
Once again, the need for a systemic overall has been thrown into sharp focus. What the JCF needs is a system of checks and balances that is not dependent so much on confidence in the integrity of incumbent personnel. The accumulation of intelligence that enabled the Commissioner to speak out on the rot in the Force must now be matched with resolute action. The Police Force must be cleansed now from top to bottom.
THE OPINIONS ON THIS PAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE ABOVE, DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE GLEANER.
