Jamaica Top Cop under pressure over ‘death squad’ conviction

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Howard Mitchell-led Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is taking Commissioner of Police Major General Antony Anderson to task over his silence on the conviction of Constable Collis ‘Chucky’ Brown who was found guilty of murders committed as part of a police ‘death squad’ in Clarendon.

Brown was convicted last week Thursday for the murders of three men in two separate incidents in Clarendon.

The policeman was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and wounding with intent.

Evidence was admitted during the trial in the Home Circuit Court in which Brown disclosed, among other things, that the police ‘death squad’ was supplied with resources to target criminals and that the ‘unit’ had the support of senior members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The PSOJ, in a statement yesterday afternoon, argued that “the allegations of police teams systematically acting on the instructions of senior police officers to target and kill individuals have the gravest consequences for the public’s trust and confidence in the JCF as well as highlighting large-scale human rights abuses.”

“The PSOJ would invite the Commissioner of Police to reassure the citizens of Jamaica that this unlawful practice has ceased,” the association added.

“We strongly urge the Commissioner of Police to make a statement,” it emphasised. The PSOJ asked “What measures have been put in place to ensure that it never happens again? And what internal measures have been taken to investigate the evidence from Brown’s trial to identify and investigate any serving police officers or those who may have since left the service. The people of Jamaica are entitled to a police service that they can have confidence in to act within the law. We strongly urge the Commissioner of Police to make a statement”.