Police Federation wants INDECOM boss to resign

The Jamaica Police Federation wants the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) boss Terrence Williams to immediately step aside to allow for "transparent actions" of the oversight body.

INDECOM was established by an act of Parliament in 2010 to investigate alleged misconduct by members of the security forces.

Williams has been INDECOM Commissioner since its inception and has said he will not renew his contract when it expires in July.

But in a statement today, the police federation, which represents cops from the rank of constable to inspector, chided Williams for what it claimed are dishonest actions by INDECOM against members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) .

The latest example, the federation, said was a radio interview in which Williams acknowledged that lawmakers had agreed to amend section 4 of the INDECOM Act that would empower the oversight body to arrest and prosecute members of the JCF.

Yesterday, the United Kingdom-based Privy Council affirmed a ruling by the Jamaican Court of Appeal that the INDECOM Act, as it is now, gives the oversight body no such powers, except in cases where it’s work was being impeded.

"The federation is asking Commissioner Williams to tell the Jamaican people why he arrested and charged police officers for incident offences when clearly he knew that this should not happen without an amendment to section 4 of the act," the police union questioned.

The federation wants Williams to immediately step down, arguing that his actions have overshadowed the work of the commission.

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