HAMISH’S REGRET

In 2013, the year Hamish Campbell took up the post of assistant commissioner at the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), Jamaica recorded 258 police fatal shootings.

Twelve years later, as Campbell gets ready to go off into retirement, the 296 police fatal shootings recorded since January this year is already the highest in Jamaica’s history for a calendar year.

After his first two years in the job, the number of police fatal shootings was slashed from 258 in 2013 to 115 the following year and 101 in 2015, before a historic low of 86 in 2019.

However, since then there has been a steady rise that could see police fatal shootings surpass 300 in a calendar year for the first time.

“It’s disappointing to see the numbers rise up again in such a manner, and it’s difficult to understand,” Campbell acknowledged during an interview with The Gleaner at his New Kingston office on Monday.

“Unfortunately, as I leave, the volume of fatal shootings [by the police] has exceeded what was in 2013, and we are about to reach, I think, 300 fatal shootings by the end of the year,” he added.

Despite this, Campbell believes INDECOM, which was created to investigate misconduct by the security forces and correctional officers, is having an impact on how cops operate.

He said the fact that police personnel are uncomfortable with the oversight is “indicative, in one way, that the commission is doing something correct and that there isn’t a free ride to disregard human rights, civil liberties … or the seeming ability at times to just shoot without anybody questioning it”.

The former British police officer is set to demit office at the end of this month.

He plans to remain in Jamaica and indulge in his favourite pastime of hiking and painting.

He will be succeeded by Yanique Taylor-Wellington, the current director of complaints, who has been appointed deputy commissioner in charge of operations, effective December 20, the oversight body confirmed.

Campbell said that before his tenure at INDECOM, he was aware of some of “the issues” related to the Jamaican police force “and some of the shootings which were viewed as suspicious”.

He cited, as an example, the shooting deaths of four people in Kraal, Clarendon, on May 7, 2003 by the since-disbanded police Crime Management Unit.

A police report stated that the two men and two women were killed in a shoot-out during an operation to apprehend a wanted man, Bashington ‘Chen Chen’ Douglas.

However, the former British policeman said he was surprised by the “volume” of fatal shootings by the Jamaican police.

“What puzzled me, really, was – why are they occurring at such a high volume?” he said.

Campbell sidestepped questions about whether Jamaican lawmakers have the political will to tackle the issue.

“I don’t know the answer to that question as to whether the political will is there or not. It’s not for me to answer that question,” he said.

However, the outgoing INDECOM official said a duly elected Government has a responsibility to its citizens and visitors to ensure that agents of the State operate within the law.

Campbell said he “thinks there is, and hopes there is” a resolve by the leadership of the Jamaican police force to tackle the rising number of police fatal shootings.

He noted the frequent public appeals by Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake for criminals not to challenge the police.

Campbell acknowledged, too, that there is “a large number of gunmen in Jamaica, and a large number of criminals” engaged in killing citizens, and who confronting the police.

“But the point which we have made time and again is, the alleged confrontations, in many cases, are not true. And if they are not true, then how are they [victims] being shot?” Campbell said.

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com