People should show respect to police officers

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Recently, Television Jamaica aired a news report ‘Uniformed hustlers’ focusing on corrupt police officers who allegedly solicit monies from motorists who have breached the Road Traffic Act and Regulations. The news report highlighted a few motorists who claimed that the police officers demanded bribes in order not to write them the tickets. There have been reports that, from time to time, police officers assigned to the patrol division and police traffic division allegedly request monies from drivers who have committed road traffic offences.

However, from another perspective, it is a fact that motorists who commit road traffic breaches reportedly offer bribes to the police and, at time,s drivers is have been charged for bribery or attempted bribery. Some motorists are allegedly fixated on attempting to bribe police officers and, when the officers refuse the money, the offending motorists use filthy language against them.

Many citizens have absolutely no respect for the police and are of the opinion that, whenever they breach the road rules, no police officer should issue them with tickets, for they are a law unto themselves. If citizens do not show respect for the police, how can the police treat them with respect? Citizens have to begin to show respect for the police and stop their shameful conduct and behaviour against them.

People need to appreciate the fact that the police should be shown respect at all times. According to the police’s Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau they have received no report from any motorist complaining about any police officer demanding and-or requesting bribes from them. Citizens should be aware that the police force has a zero tolerance approach towards corruption.

Recently, three police officers were charged and placed before the courts for receiving bribes. I have heard Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake stating that no form of corruption will be tolerated within the Jamaica Constabulary Force. Citizens must be made to understand that they should not attempt to bribe any police officer or they can be charged for such a criminal act.

ROBERT DALLEY