From the release:

The Police High Command wishes to apologise to the Management of Digicel and the members of staff for any undue anxiety and fear caused by the presence of armed Police personnel on the day in question. We also wish to assure the public in general and business operators in particular, that in the future when we assist enforcement agencies, we will do so in a manner that reflects understanding and does not cause undue fear and anxiety.

Based on what happened on May 4, the Police High Command conducted an investigation into the matter. As a result of the findings of the investigation, we concluded that the level of force deployed was out of proportion with what was required for such operation.
Against this background, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of operations has been tasked to have immediate consultation with all agencies that the Police provide support for from time to time, to review the existing standing orders.

According to the police, assistance provided to the tax enforcers was as a result of a standing order which has been agreed to, but they will now demand more information from Government agencies before they actually deploy a team. The Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID) will now be the unit tasked to assist these agencies.

According to an ACB report, the District Constable found a stolen motor vehicle in the possession of a mechanic who was in the process of scrapping it. The District Constable then allegedly attempted to solicit a sum of money from the mechanic in exchange for not laying charges against him.

A report was made to the Anti Corruption Branch and the district constable was held during a sting operation after he collected part payment from the complainant.

The district constable is currently in police custody, and a case file is being prepared for submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a ruling.

According to reports, at approximately 12 noon yesterday, the police were on an operation in the Birdsucker Lane area, when they accosted a man who pulled a firearm and allegedly opened fire at them. The suspect then reportedly ran into adjoining premises, where he dropped the firearm and escaped.

The firearm, a 9 mm Smith and Wesson pistol with its serial number erased, was seized. The injured policeman was taken to hospital where he was treated and released.

According to reports, a joint police/military team had shot Thompson at his aunt’s gate, and put him in a police vehicle to be taken to hospital. He had reportedly been shot in the shoulder, a non life-threatening injury. His aunt who had reportedly accompanied police personnel who were transporting Thompson to the Kingston Public Hospital, was allegedly removed from the vehicle shortly after it left the community. When his relatives arrived at the Kingston Public Hospital, they saw his lifeless body in the police vehicle. A probe by the Bureau of Special Investigations later suggested that the police had stopped on the way to the hospital, and shot him several more times. A post-mortem report had reportedly revealed that Thompson received gunshots to the head, chest, hands, and legs. Both his hands were fractured, his face was severely battered, and his neck and ribs were broken.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ruled in 2009 that Russell and another policeman should be charged with murder in relation to Thompson’s death, but both policemen fled the island before the ruling was handed down. Russell was subsequently held by US authorities on an immigration offence, and during the usual exchange of such information between the US and Jamaican police, it was discovered that he was on the run from Jamaica.

The DPP, acting for the Jamaican Government, then made a request to the US Government that Russell be extradited to Jamaica to face the murder charge, but he challenged his extradition on several grounds. His challenge failed however, and he was ordered sent back to Jamaica to face the murder charge. He lodged an appeal in an attempt to be allowed to stay in the United States, but on April 23, the United States District Court in the Southern District of New York rejected his appeal.

Ellis, who was stationed in Montego Bay, St. James at the time, had 10 years’ service in the force at the time of his dismissal, and had applied in September 2009 to be re-enlisted. On October 1, 2009, his application for re-enlistment was refused and he was issued with a letter from the commissioner, informing him that he was dismissed. Ellis was accused of being associated with criminal undesirables in the area …. more details here.

He highlighted two recent cases “of apparent evidence-tampering by police personnel“, while urging the cops to maintain high standards.

Additional highlights from his statements in yesterday’s Force Orders: “Let us renew our faith in professional discipline, remembering that it has sustained us through challenging periods in the past … We will work with you all to improve on your professional competencies while we build the necessary operational methods to safeguard all members against the temptation to abuse citizens’ rights out of professional impatienc.”.

The police chief issued a plea for members of the force to be understanding with regard to the current drive to rid the Force of corrupt police: “There seems to be some apprehension, lack of appreciation and misunderstanding by members regarding the force’s strong position in dealing with corruption in the organisation … We cannot progress as a professional organisation if corruption … is not firstly acknowledged and secondly dealt with in a robust manner … Good professionals have the full support of the High Command and have nothing to fear. Those who continue in corruption have made a clear choice and must face the consequences.”

He noted that the Police High Command had accepted that corruption in its many forms was a problem in the force and had embarked on a campaign to rid the organisation of corruption.

Yesterday, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington and Assistant Commissioner Justin Felice (head of the Anti-Corruption Branch which arrested her), both travelled to Montego Bay, St. James, to personally say sorry to the detective. They apologised for the trauma and anxiety she endured during the course of the investigation, and thanked her for the dignity she displayed and the cooperation she gave in the investigation which led to the location of the witness.

According to Commissioner Ellington, the detective, who was arrested on reasonable suspicion of perverting the course of justice and uttering false documents, has been totally exonerated. She had been taken into custody following the findings of a handwriting expert that she had falsified a statement in a case now before the courts.

After being located, the witness in the case supplied samples of his handwriting, which were then handed over to a handwriting expert whose findings cleared the female detective.

In the Force Orders he said, “In recent times I have received a number of complaints, some very disturbing, regarding the attitude of the police towards mentally disordered persons found wandering at large, and those who have committed offences and come into police custody.”

He also quoted from the Mental Health Act stating, “Where a constable finds any person in a public place or wandering at large, in such a manner or under such circumstances as to indicate that he is mentally disordered, the constable may, without a warrant, take such person in charge and forthwith accompany him to a psychiatric facility for treatment.“

According to the police, criminal elements tried this week to hurt members of a police team who were on patrol along Barracks Road. The police team reportedly encountered bushes stretching across the road, and when they left the vehicle to investigate, pieces of board with nails were found hidden in the bushes.