INDECOM recommended that 16 police officers be charged during 1st quarter

During the first quarter of 2014, Jamaica’s Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) recommended that 16 police officers be charged for criminal offences.

In another 38 matters investigated, the allegations of wrongdoing on the part of the police were not substantiated.

These were among the 88 matters investigated by INDECOM during the first quarter of 2014. In 38 matters it was recommended that disciplinary action be taken against the concerned officers, while Coroner’s Inquests were recommended for seven matters. For 14 cases, the Commission recommended that civil remedies be pursued.

January

In January, 29 reports were produced by the Commission. In six of those matters it was recommended that criminal charges be laid against the concerned officers.

In 16 of the matters the Commission recommended that disciplinary action be taken in relation to the concerned officers. Civil remedies were recommended for 10 matters while a Coroner’s Inquest was recommended for one matter. Of the 29 cases dealt with, 16 were deemed “unsubstantiated.”

February

For the month of February, 32 Commission’s Reports were produced. In seven of those matters, it was recommended that criminal charges be laid against the concerned officers.

In 15 of the matters the Commission recommended that disciplinary action be taken in relation to the concerned officers. In two instances, the Commission recommended that a Coroner’s Inquest be conducted and in two matters civil remedies were recommended.

For 17 of the matters investigated, it was found that the claims against the police were unsubstantiated.

March

In March, 27 reports were produced. In three of those matters, it was recommended that criminal charges be laid against the concerned officers; while in five of the matters it was recommended that disciplinary actions be taken against the officers and in five other matters the Commission recommended that a Coroner’s Inquest be conducted.

For two matters, civil remedies were recommended. Seven of the complaints were found to be unsubstantiated.

Recommended actions

The disciplinary actions recommended were for offences ranging from “Murder, Wounding with Intent, Neglect of Duty and Misconduct in a Public Office to Assault Occasioning Bodily Harm,” according to INDECOM.

"Unsubstantiated"

The Commission, explaining the term “unsubstantiated,” said this “does not automatically mean that the state agent acted properly as several factors can render a matter unsubstantiated.”

It said “the major and most frequent factors include insufficient evidence; poor identification i.e. meaning complainant was unable to positively identify the concerned officer; and an unwillingness of the complainant and or witnesses to provide written statements.”