Dear Editor,
In light of the brutal murder of woman police Crystal Thomas, head of the State-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) Garnet Roper has urged police officers to capitalise on free travel on the JUTC buses.
Dr Roper said all officers have to do is display their IDs to the driver and all will be well. I know the police would appreciate the move, but one major concern with that system is the displaying of their IDs. So often I have seen police officers showing JUTC drivers while I collect my bus ticket when I sit in the front seats or when the inspectors are checking tickets. The officers sometimes instead of showing their IDs will tell the driver 'police'; the driver now has to verify by asking for their ID.
What the JUTC should have done was to give police officers Smarter Cards. This would make it harder for criminals to detect the identity of police personnel. The personalised Smarter Card would eliminate the issue of disclosed identity, and if the card is lost the same procedure like a regular Smarter Card would apply.
The JUTC, while not claiming bulletproof protection, speaks of a form of panic-button system associated with its buses that makes it less prone to being succesfully robbed. I ask the JUTC to look into Smarter Cards for police officers and I join with Dr Roper and encourage police officers to make use of that which is provided for them.
Condolence to the Jamaica Constabulary Force family and the family of the slain cops.
I am etc
Hezekan Bolton
h_e_z_e@hotmail.com
Give police Smarter Cards
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In light of the brutal murder of woman police Crystal Thomas, head of the State-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) Garnet Roper has urged police officers to capitalise on free travel on the JUTC buses.
Dr Roper said all officers have to do is display their IDs to the driver and all will be well. I know the police would appreciate the move, but one major concern with that system is the displaying of their IDs. So often I have seen police officers showing JUTC drivers while I collect my bus ticket when I sit in the front seats or when the inspectors are checking tickets. The officers sometimes instead of showing their IDs will tell the driver 'police'; the driver now has to verify by asking for their ID.
What the JUTC should have done was to give police officers Smarter Cards. This would make it harder for criminals to detect the identity of police personnel. The personalised Smarter Card would eliminate the issue of disclosed identity, and if the card is lost the same procedure like a regular Smarter Card would apply.
The JUTC, while not claiming bulletproof protection, speaks of a form of panic-button system associated with its buses that makes it less prone to being succesfully robbed. I ask the JUTC to look into Smarter Cards for police officers and I join with Dr Roper and encourage police officers to make use of that which is provided for them.
Condolence to the Jamaica Constabulary Force family and the family of the slain cops.
I am etc
Hezekan Bolton
h_e_z_e@hotmail.com
Give police Smarter Cards
-->