Tears rain as cop flung from bike dies
Published:Friday | December 11, 2020 | 12:16 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Thursday’s crash death of Constable Fabian Morrison has been described as a body blow to the police force, this being at least the second motorcycle fatality in three months.
Morrison, who had joined the force two years ago, was a member of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB).
The constable died after his service motorcycle collided with a Honda motor car in the vicinity of the entrance to the army headquarters at Up Park Camp, St Andrew.
Police Federation Chairman Corporal Rohan James said the Jamaica Constabulary Force has endured a rough year grappling with members who had died tragically in crashes, at the hands of murderers, or by ill health. He said that the force has been burdened by funeral after funeral.
“I know that we have lost quite a few officers, even in recent weeks from natural causes … ,” he told The Gleaner on Thursday.
“I know that we have been attending funerals week after week.”
James said that Morrison had been close to him since he had been in training.
“His development, to me, was paramount,” James said.
Police reports indicate that, about 8:10 a.m., Morrison was driving in a westerly direction when, on reaching the intersection of Arnold and Camp roads, a motorist allegedly turned suddenly into the path of the service motorcycle, resulting in the collision.
Morrison was flung from the motorcycle and sustained multiple injuries.
A team of Jamaica Defence Force paramedics assisted him to the Kingston Public Hospital, where he died while being treated.
When our news team arrived at the Elletson Road base of PSTEB, police personnel were weeping uncontrollably as they mourned Morrison’s death.
The federation extended condolences to Morrison’s family, friends and colleagues, promising that “we will be standing in the gap for them, with them, as we are all in this together”.
Condolences also came from the office of the Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang.
“The loss of life of any police officer in the line of duty is always a matter of profound sadness. We urge motorists and pedestrians to exercise vigilance and extreme caution on the road,” he said.
Constable Kamal Foster, who was attached to the Hunt’s Bay Police Station, was also killed in a traffic crash a few months ago. He was reportedly hit from his personal motorcycle while travelling on the Rock Hall main road on September 19.