Thu | Mar 28, 2024

Cop’s murder rattles Whitfield Town

Residents say malfunctioning street light providing cover for criminals

Published:Monday | May 8, 2023 | 12:57 AMAinsworth Morris/Staff Reporter
District Constable Ricardo Jarrett.
District Constable Ricardo Jarrett.
The section of Berwick Road in Kingston where District Constable Ricardo Jarrett was shot dead about 3 a.m. on Sunday.
The section of Berwick Road in Kingston where District Constable Ricardo Jarrett was shot dead about 3 a.m. on Sunday.
1
2

Residents of Berwick Road in Whitfield Town, Kingston, have blamed a lack of response to repeated calls for the only street light in that section of the community to be repaired for the fatal attack on District Constable Ricardo Jarrett.

According to reports, about 3 a.m. on Sunday, Jarrett was dropping off a woman when he was pounced upon and shot by armed men. His firearm was also stolen.

The 30-year-old district constable was assisted to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

About midday on Sunday, the still-shaken residents of the area, who all spoke with The Gleaner by peering over the walls of their properties, said that the area has been targeted by robbers since the light stopped working several months ago.

However, they said that this was the first murder at the location.

Not used to shootings

One man, who described the section along Berwick Road where the police officer was killed as “the Beverly Hills of Berwick”, said the residents were still in shock after being rattled by the loud explosions in the dead of night.

“We nuh used to gunshot pan da road ya. We used to man a rob wi ‘roun ya, but not gunshot. A yah so a Beverly Hills and di bottom [section of Berwick Road] a Jungle (the inner city). Di man dem bring the shot come uptown,” the man told The Gleaner.

Other residents told The Gleaner that the street lamp has been out for about a year as they blamed their councillor and the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) for not having the issue addressed.

Yesterday, the Police High Command condemned Jarrett’s murder.

Jarrett was assigned to the Darling Street Police Station in Kingston and should have reported to work for duties at 7 a.m. on Sunday.

When The Gleaner visited the station, officers were in a sombre mood, with one constable using a rag to wipe her tears.

She told The Gleaner that Jarrett was a jovial guy who she grew to respect over the months she has been at the Darling Street Police Station.

“He’s always talking positive things. He was a good cop. He was a part of the covert [operation] team, and his close friends (colleagues) are on the road patrolling now where he would have been for work. He was supposed to be here for work this morning, but that will not be again, and it is sad,” she said on the verge of crying.

A male colleague beside her was at a loss for words. Deeply distraught about the murder, he could not find the strength to comment.

Damion Pryce, president of the United District Constables Association, said several colleagues are now in mourning as two other district constables – from the Spanish Town and Mountain View police stations – died last week from medical issues.

“It’s a whole lot, but together, we continue to fight our storm,” Pryce said during a visit at Darling Street.

He added that in handling the grief counselling, he has to go beyond the badge and humanise his efforts in reaching the broken and downtrodden.

“That’s the challenge, That’s extremely hard to do. It’s one of the hardest things to do because it’s your very own that has [been killed] by gunmen. We are fighting the same fight. We are fighting the same cause, and most times, people around in the society don’t see [cops] as human beings with families, so it’s extremely hard on us,” Pryce said.

ainsworth.morris@gleanerjm.com