Last Sunday’s series of police operations conducted in the northern part of the island involved over 71 officers and resulted in seven arrests on a number of firearms and drug-related charges. Eighteen motor vehicles were impounded, 58 tickets issued. According to ACP with responsibility for territorial policing, George Nicholas, at a press conference on Tuesday: “In Dennery, a green Suzuki motor car was stopped and a search was conducted that uncovered a Glock 14-calibre pistol with eight rounds of ammunition, also a 12-gauge shotgun with two rounds of ammunition. A quantity of drugs, that we suspect is cannabis, was taken from the vehicle.”
As the ACP announced to the press the several arrests of individuals still in their custody, the drugs and firearms confiscated, the former prime minister Kenny Anthony came to mind. He was leader of the opposition and campaigning in 2011 when he said he had reason to believe the police had marked several individuals as targets. Upon taking office again, Prime Minister Anthony announced to the world that an imported team of investigators had uncovered some very disturbing things about a police initiative called Operation Restore Confidence, undertaken in 2010. For instance: “All the shootings reviewed were fake encounters staged by the police to legitimize their actions . . . Weapons supposedly found at the scene of alleged extra-judicial killings were from sources other than the victims. The investigators say that the weapons were planted at the scene of the shootings.”
Just two weeks ago, on September 27, a special police constable and another individual were arrested and charged with being in possession of firearms and ammunition without a valid license. Commenting on the arrests, ACP Wayne Charlery said: “This makes us more credible in my opinion. If we can arrest one of our own for possession of an illegal firearm, it proves we will enforce the law in all circumstances. It shows that we do not show favouritism toward law breakers, including police officers.”
As to the status of the officers who, by their own admission, shot and killed 17-year-old Arnold Joseph in May this year, they remain on active duty. Charlery confirmed that any action against them will depend on the outcome of ongoing investigations. In this matter too, there are questions related to a recovered 9mm firearm. There have been no related arrests, no charges laid.
Recently Arnold Joseph’s mother revealed to Rick Wayne during an appearance on his TV show TALK that the police had informed her that the result of their investigations was before the Director of Public Prosecutions, from whom they awaited appropriate instructions.
There is no new word on the death of Kimberly de Leon, wife of a police officer. She was shot last November at their Morne residence while preparing for bed. Her husband claims he was at work at the time. That matter too awaits a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
