Gayle was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of ammunition, 20 years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of firearm, 20 years’ imprisonment for shooting with intent and 20 years imprisonment for attempted robbery.

The Court heard that in 2007, Gayle and a civilian went to St. Elizabeth and attempted to rob an off-duty policewoman and a civilian of a motorcycle. Gayle fired shots at the policewoman and the civilian while they were travelling on the Ballards Valley main road. The policewoman returned the fire and Gayle was shot. Gayle then went to the Junction Police Station in St. Elizabeth and reported that someone on a motorcycle shot and injured him.

The matter was investigated, and it was revealed that Gayle was shot during the attempted robbery and the car in which he was travelling was also damaged by the bullets. In his defence, Gayle denied committing the offences. The civilian who was travelling with Gayle is still being sought by the police.

According to reports, on Sunday (January 8), the policeman and a colleague responded to call from a householder in Hellshire Heights. After the two policemen had left the house, the complainant realized that her laptop was missing. She complained to the police and after an investigation was launched, the policeman reportedly confessed to stealing the device and promptly resigned from the force.

The police are now awaiting a ruling from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions on the matter.

Litchmore was reportedly shot and killed on Frederick Avenue. According to police reports, a police team saw Litchmore and another man walking along a gully towards Markland Drive in the Kingston 8 area. The police reportedly stopped their vehicle, and the men allegedly pointed guns at them. The man who was walking with Litchmore is alleged to have fired two shots at the police team, and then he reportedly ran towards the direction from which he came along the gully. The police returned fire and Litchmore was hit. He was taken to the University Hospital of the West Indies where he died while undergoing treatment.

Residents of the area have however refuted the police’s version of the killing. They allege that Litchmore was walking along the gully peeling an orange, when he was accosted by the police officers travelling in a motor car. The police reportedly told him to put his hands in the air, and it is said that after Litchmore did as he was requested, a policeman shot him three times in the stomach.

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has launched a probe into the incident, and is urging anyone with information that can help with its investigation to call its office.

According to reports, at about 3:30 this morning, the policeman was at a night club when there was an altercation between him and another man. It’s reported that the other man stabbed the policeman before making his escape. The policeman was rushed to hospital where he was admitted. Reports indicate that he is in serious but stable condition.

It’s reported that the policemen, who did not know each other, were at a dance on D’Aguilar Road off Waltham Park Road in the wee hours this morning, and while it’s not fully clear what transpired, both policemen reportedly pulled their weapons and Corporal Howe was hit during an exchange of gunfire between the two. He was later pronounced dead.

The Bureau of Special Investigations says it has already collected statements from some persons who attended the dance, however, it is encouraging others who may have witnessed the incident to call 922-7277 to provide statements.

Few people expected Detective Corporal Cliff Coleman to be alive today. Shot five times and presumed dead, he is today strongly determined to fight crime till his last breath. Coming under attack from gunmen more times than he can count during his near-24 years as a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force … more here

He stated:

“Divisional commanders are to increase road-policing activities, deployments in market districts, shopping centres, commercial areas, transportation centres and along major thoroughfares,” Ellington said in the Force Orders issued yesterday … Special attention must be paid to financial institutions and all entities generating significant cash transactions.”

Divisional commanders were reminded also, that in preparation for the heightened activities during the Christmas season, administrative duties should be scaled down and the personnel should be deployed to operational duties.

• 62 persons have been denied the opportunity to re-enlist in the JCF (seven of those individuals were prevented from re-enlisting just last month – September, 2011)
• 34 members of the JCF were charged with corruption
• 7 members of the JCF were dismissed for corruption
• 18 civilians were charged with corrupting JCF staff

The release comes as the JCF seeks to highlight its internal efforts to rid the organisation of corrupt members. The Anti-Corruption Branch of the JCF has indicated they have been making significant strides in sensitising its members and the public on corruption and ethics-related issues (as it relates to the JCF).

Jamaica’s justice minister, Delroy Chuck, has revealed that the cash-strapped Government currently owes almost $400 million in civil-suit judgments, and that most of the money owed by the Government in civil suits was awarded in cases where the court decided that the police had abused their authority … more here