... Quallo reviewing report on JCF’s role in 2010 West Kingston operation
THE JAMAICA Constabulary Force (JCF) last week disclosed that on June 18, it completed an administrative review of the force’s role in the 2010 West Kingston operation. The report, it said, is with Commissioner George Quallo, who is sharing it with internal bodies.
However, John Clarke, legal officer, Jamaicans for Justice, said until that report has been made public, Assistant Commissioner of Police Donovan Graham should not be put in charge of any police systems, and especially with the zones of special operations soon to be declared, and St James likely to be one of the first.
“The danger is this: Many Jamaicans are aware of cases where persons’ complaints, real or perceived, are not being addressed by the bigger heads in the JCF,” he said. “[Transfers] like these generally give support to a public perception that it doesn’t make sense to complain against police excess or senior officers, because nothing will be done.”
Meanwhile, Public Defender Arlene Harrison Henry said, “No one has been held accountable for the deaths of several young men” in west Kingston, and though Graham has not been linked to any, his transfer runs counter to the security forces being held accountable for their actions.
Sixty-nine people, including a soldier, were killed in the 2010 operation to arrest the now-convicted gangster Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.