Policeman injured in friendly fire incident
THE INDEPENDENT Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) yesterday launched a probe into an incident in which a policeman was reportedly injured by friendly fire during an early morning operation at the Olivere Housing Scheme in Buff Bay, Portland.
A preliminary report indicates that members of the Operations Support Team in Portland, which carries out special emergency operations in the police division, went in search of wanted men, who were believed to be occupying a property inside the housing scheme, around 5:45 a.m. yesterday.
According to the report, a male constable, whose name had not been released up to yesterday afternoon, was inside the house securing one of the exits when he opened a side door and an explosion was heard.
Other police personnel, who ran to investigate after hearing their colleague cry out in pain, found him lying on the floor and covered in blood inside the house.
It was determined that the constable, who was bleeding from the head, was injured after a district constable fired a single shot, which ricocheted off a wall and hit him in the eye.
The constable, who lost consciousness, was rushed to the Annotto Bay Hospital and later transferred to the Kingston Public Hospital.
Along with INDECOM, the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Inspectorate of the Constabulary has launched an investigation into the matter.