Retrain cops, soldiers in weapons handling after discharge – INDECOM
Published:Friday | February 18, 2022 | 12:12 AM
The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) is reminding the security forces of the agreed criteria which subject its members to being retrained and recertified in weapons handling.
The reminder comes against the background of recurring incidents of accidental discharge of firearm and weapons security, says INDECOM Commissioner Hugh Faulkner.
“We have seen incidents where there has been the accidental discharge of firearms, which has caused injury to officers themselves, in some instances to their colleagues, and in other instances to human personnel and property,” Faulkner told journalists during a virtual press briefing on Thursday.
“[The security forces] had indicated that in every instance where a firearm is accidentally discharged by a member whether on duty or not, or whether injury results, such member must be subject to be retrained and recertified in terms of his/her competence to use such firearm,” Faulkner said.
On the weekend, INDECOM commenced probes in two incidents, one fatal and the other resulting in a injury.
In the February 12 incident, 16-year-old Javead Moodie is believed to have shot himself with the gun of a policeman, who is also his brother. The teen reportedly took up the firearm and went into his room with it after his brother had gone to take a shower after arriving home from work.
An explosion was heard and Moodie was later found suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. He later died.
The other incident, which occurred on Sunday in August Town, St Andrew, saw a constable being shot by his colleague as they tried to fend off a man said to be of unsound mind. The man was also shot in the abdomen.
INDECOM says the directive has suggested that members must only be issued with firearms for which they have been certified.
“Once there is the discharge of firearms, whether accidental, whether deliberate, INDECOM must be notified forthwith,” Faulkner said.
The agency said it has taken note of cases in which firearms of members of the security forces are retrieved by family members with tragic results..
“In 2016, the matter had gotten some attention, and during that period, there were instances where fatalities occurred and [weapons] discharged involved children having access to the firearm of officers,” Faulkner said.
He said the watchdog group is restating that where supervisors authorise officers to have a firearm to keep and care, then the supervising authority must ensure that adequate provision has been made by the member for the security of the firearm.
INDECOM says the officers given the firearm have a responsibility with regard to care, maintenance, and storage of that weapon, which should not be accessible by children, family members, or anyone within a household.
“It is a lso advisable that police personnel who are off duty and carrying keep and care service firearms must ensure that the firearm is properly concealed. We believe observance of these principles will endure to the safety of JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) officers, law enforcement [personnel] on a whole, and the public in general, including children,” Faulkner said.