Letter of the Day | Concern about increase in police killings justified

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As I watched the newscasts on Television Jamaica (TVJ) on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, two items captured my attention. The first was the welcomed reports of a reduction in murders and major crimes in the country. That fact deserves recognition and celebration. The second was the significant increase in police shootings.

Jamaicans yearn to live in a country where law and order are upheld. We want to know that we can move freely in all communities without the constant fear of being attacked or killed. We also desire a police force that is respected and supported.

At the same time, we are constantly aware that policing in Jamaica is extremely difficult. Many of our policemen and women serve with courage and professionalism, often under life-threatening conditions.

Jamaicans also know the reality on the ground that some criminals are barefaced and openly challenge the police with high-powered weapons, placing officers and civilians at grave risk.

Any commentary on police fatal shootings should always be approached with the above context in mind. That recognition, however, does not make the sharp increase in police fatal shootings less worrying.

In 2025, approximately 310 people in Jamaica met their demise at the hands of the police. That number is a significant increase (some 64-67 per cent above the previous year according to the Independent Commission of Investigations).

It must be said plainly that to scrutinise police action is not to oppose policing, nor is it to support criminality. Jamaicans recognise that many suspects are lawfully apprehended and brought before the courts. Acknowledging that fact does not remove the responsibility to examine incidents where lethal force is used. Accountability and transparency do not weaken the police, they strengthen public trust and protect those officers who are indeed upholding the law.

If policing is perceived, rightly or wrongly, as drifting into extrajudicial territory, trust erodes and cooperation suffers. Measures, such as body-worn cameras, timely investigations, and transparent oversight are essential safeguards for both citizens and police.

We can affirm law and order, respect the police, and insist on justice, at the same time. Jamaica deserves nothing less.

BISHOP ROY NOTICE