JCF’s defiance sends wrong message

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has again revealed its contempt for accountability with its statement that “The JCF will not be dictated to by Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), or any other group, on matters of operational deployment of BWCs or any other internal operational strategies” . When a security force charged with protecting citizens openly and consistently resists oversight, it signals a step in the wrong direction.

Body-worn cameras (BWCs) are not accessories; they are lifelines for truth. Their absence only emboldens misconduct, erodes trust in the force, and leaves families of victims without recourse where applicable. Studies globally confirm that BWCs reduce use-of-force incidents and equally reduce complaints against officers. With the number of police fatal shootings, which have gone up, the refusal to make BWCs standard is not a technical lapse; it is a dereliction of duty.

The JCF says “overwhelming majority” of INDECOM cases end with officers cleared. But clearance without credible evidence is only a little more than a rubber stamp. Every police killing without footage widens the gulf of distrust between the people and the state, and reinforces the perception of a police force seemingly operating above the law.

The JCF should consider:

• Universal deployment of BWCs with serious penalties for officers who disable or fail to use them.

• Independent forensic reviews of every fatal encounter, with results made public.

• Mandatory de-escalation training and psychological screening for frontline officers.

• Community policing models that reduce confrontation and rebuild trust.

• Strengthened civilian oversight, giving watchdogs real enforcement power, not token consultation.

Instead, the JCF talks about “operational strategies”, as though taxpayer-funded institutions are exempt from scrutiny. The police do not get to dictate the terms of accountability. The people do.

Until the JCF and political leadership acknowledge this, the body count will remain high, families will grieve in vain, and Jamaica will continue down the path of a militarised state rather than a modern democracy.

Accountability is not optional; It is the price of legitimacy, and Jamaica deserves better.

DE’MARLEY WILLIAMS