Two of them were constables, and they were promoted to corporal. A third was promoted from corporal to sergeant. The fourth member of the patrol was a district constable, and there are no ranks in this component of the force, so Acting Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington has advised that they have found other appropriate means of recognition for that individual.

Acting Commissioner Ellington, who described the cops’ action as exemplary police work, said it showed that the arresting officers were among the finest in the ranks of the constabulary. He equated each bullet to a life of the membership of the constabulary. “In practical terms they may have saved a police force and the entire organisation, and I think the country and people of Jamaica owe them a debt of gratitude,” he said.

According to a release, those promoted had satisfied the criteria for moving up the force’s ladder. The constabulary force’s director of communication, Karl Angell, reportedly said “These 168 promotions were made to fill existing vacancies. All persons promoted were recommended by their commanding officers and all have been cleared for promotion by the Anti – Corruption Branch and the National Intelligence Bureau.“