Police officer interdicted following fatal shooting in Granville St.James yesterday

By Clement Reid and Shanice Gibbs

The High Command of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has ordered the immediate interdiction of a police officer involved in a fatal shooting incident in Granville, St. James, yesterday.

A release by the High Command stated that it is deeply concerned about the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting and said the matter has been reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and the Inspectorate Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB).

According to the High Command, having reviewed preliminary information, including CCTV footage, it ordered the immediate interdiction of the member involved.

The High Command said that while the investigation is ongoing, the JCF wishes to make it unequivocally clear that any action by a member which even appears to fall outside the law, outside established operational standards or outside the professional values of the organisation will attract decisive institutional response.

It stated that the overwhelming majority of the men and women of the JCF serve honourably under some of the most difficult and dangerous conditions imaginable.

The High Command noted that the incident yesterday must therefore not be conflated with the legitimate and lawful use of force exercised daily by police personnel in the execution of their duties and in defence of life.

According to the High Command, the JCF remains resolute in its commitment to accountability and professionalism.

It said the Force recognises the importance of due process and will allow the independent investigation now underway to proceed without prejudice or interference.

The High Command sought to assure the public that the JCF remains committed to maintaining public trust and preserving the integrity of policing in Jamaica through transparency, accountability and decisive leadership.

In the meantime, Member of Parliament for St. James Central, Marlene Malahoo Forte, said that based on her initial observation, immediate action was needed.