Terrence Williams | State agents failing to respect the dead

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) notes the recent circulation of a video within public media fora which records members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) handling the apparently lifeless body of John Hibbert on May 17, 2016, following his alleged fatal shooting by JCF officers. The video shows the police throwing Mr Hibbert into the back of a JCF service vehicle.

What is both disturbing and unacceptable is the manner in which the body of Mr Hibbert was flung into the back of the vehicle, with absolutely no regard or sense of humanity for him. All citizens, irrespective of what they have allegedly done or who they may be, are entitled to be treated with a measure of respect.

The removal of the deceased from any crime scene, whether by the police, ambulance service or mortuary officials, is deserving of a level of professionalism, dignity and respect, both for the dead and for those family members and friends who are often present.

State agents are not qualified medical personnel and they cannot formally pronounce persons as dead. They are required to always treat a victim as injured until pronounced dead by a qualified person. Hence, in all cases, a measure of urgency is to be employed when treating with injured persons.

CLEAR GUIDELINES

The JCF has very clear guidelines within its own 'Human Rights and Use-of-force Policy', which directs "... that assistance and medical aid are rendered to any injured or affected persons at the earliest possible moment". [Section 57(3)] This video provides no evidence of this prescribed approach.

The commission has observed a recent trend in which photographs and videos are circulated on social media platforms following security force-related fatal shootings. Photographs recently posted on the Internet concerned two fatal shootings on April 12 and 13, 2016.

The photographs show the clearest evidence of a dead person, taken in circumstances in which it is more than reasonable to assume were recorded by state agents or permitted by them, but in which it was reported that the injured persons were "rushed to hospital". Such photographic evidence provides a contradictory account to there being any 'injured' person or any urgency in being 'rushed to hospital'. Such photography eliminates the credibility of such statements.

The current video and recent uploading of pictures of people killed by the security forces is observed both nationally and internationally across the World Wide Web, and does little to enhance the reputation of the Jamaican police service.

INDECOM has received comments and complaints, and we urge state agents to ensure they act, at all times, with the utmost professionalism and demonstrate the due respect for citizens and the families of these dead or injured men.

As the Indian Union Home Minister Rajneth Singh recently commented, following a death in which paramilitary forces were involved, "... As a civilised society, it is a common gesture that the dead body of a person be treated with utmost respect and dignity ... ."

- Terrence Williams is commissioner of INDECOM. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.