Garwin Davis, Gleaner Writer

A female constable attached to the Ocho Rios Police Station has accused a male colleague of sexually assaulting her at gunpoint, prompting an investigation by the police High Command.

The incident, police sources say, has affected morale at the Ocho Rios Police Station where some officers are accusing their department heads of engaging in a cover-up.

"This looks bad from the top to the bottom," one police officer who requested anonymity told The Gleaner yesterday. "What is even worse, is that there is now an attempt by some senior officers to smear the victim to make it look like she had it coming. This is a woman who has her family; her children. Where is the justice here?"

Thorough investigation

Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas, having been made aware of the incident, has reportedly told the victim that she has his word that the matter will be investigated thoroughly. Repeated attempts to reach the commissioner yesterday were unsuccessful.

It is reported that on the night of January 17, the woman was in one of the barracks at the Ocho Rios station when the detective barged into the room and made advances. When she declined to respond favourably to his request for sexual favours, he allegedly placed a gun behind her right ear and fondled her.

After consulting with her peer counselor and other officers, the woman was advised to take the matter to the Commissioner of Police.

No comment

President of the Police Federation, Corporal Raymond Wilson, confirmed that he had been told of the allegation, but said that he would not comment while the investigation was taking place. "There is a procedure to be followed ... We usually never get involved at the preliminary stage of an investigation unless of course it can be shown or proven that there is some form of a cover-up or that the aggrieved party is not being treated fairly," he said.

Superintendent Dudley Scott, the commanding officer for the parish of St. Ann, when contacted yesterday, said it was the first time he was being made aware that such an incident had taken place.

He pointed out, however, that he had assumed duties as the parish's commanding officer several weeks after the alleged incident would have taken place.

"But I am in a position where I should have known about something like this, especially if there was a report," he said.