Dear Editor,
This is an open letter to Commissioner of Police Dr Carl Williams:
Last week, as usual, I was working late at my office when a young lady in great distress came running in. She had been shot.
She was placed in our theatre, calmed down, and examined, which showed that she had miraculously just been grazed by a bullet.
She had been walking home and saw a car pulling up behind her. She reported that she saw the gun and ran. She dropped her bag as she ran, but the criminals fired at her. She felt the impact and dropped to her knees, but she got back up and ran straight to our office.
The efficient courteous police came immediately and she felt safe.
The following day newspapers carried a report of a similar crime, but the young medical student died.
The criminals are not afraid to kill wantonly. Six weeks ago, a senior justice of the peace in Hope Pastures was held up in the same way -- men in a car, suddenly stopping, a gunman comes out and it is only luck that determines your survival.
The situation is clear and a remedy must be applied. Here are my concerns:
1. Notwithstanding Judge Batts' ruling, the police should be empowered to stop any car that the constable feels may be a threat to society. This may present an opportunity to avert a crime.
2. We must educate our people to read licence plates and post suspected plates on social media.
3. There is no reason every citizen in Jamaica does not have a government-issued identification card with stored biometrics; start with those of the Electoral Commission to avoid debate.
4. Set up task forces in each station to react to illegal gun possession. Use social media to show their pictures everywhere.
5. Set up a messenger number at each station that people can report crime or suspicion of crime.
6. Improve the forensic capabilities of the force. Dr Judith Mowatt and her team must be given wider scope and resources.
Jamaica, our paradise, is being threatened. Some sacrifices, in respect of human rights, will have to be made to stem the tide. I still continue to champion human rights, but most importantly we all have a part to play in saving our nation. We must act, Commissioner.
Dr J V Ford
Kingston 19
Too much is happening, Dr Williams
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This is an open letter to Commissioner of Police Dr Carl Williams:
Last week, as usual, I was working late at my office when a young lady in great distress came running in. She had been shot.
She was placed in our theatre, calmed down, and examined, which showed that she had miraculously just been grazed by a bullet.
She had been walking home and saw a car pulling up behind her. She reported that she saw the gun and ran. She dropped her bag as she ran, but the criminals fired at her. She felt the impact and dropped to her knees, but she got back up and ran straight to our office.
The efficient courteous police came immediately and she felt safe.
The following day newspapers carried a report of a similar crime, but the young medical student died.
The criminals are not afraid to kill wantonly. Six weeks ago, a senior justice of the peace in Hope Pastures was held up in the same way -- men in a car, suddenly stopping, a gunman comes out and it is only luck that determines your survival.
The situation is clear and a remedy must be applied. Here are my concerns:
1. Notwithstanding Judge Batts' ruling, the police should be empowered to stop any car that the constable feels may be a threat to society. This may present an opportunity to avert a crime.
2. We must educate our people to read licence plates and post suspected plates on social media.
3. There is no reason every citizen in Jamaica does not have a government-issued identification card with stored biometrics; start with those of the Electoral Commission to avoid debate.
4. Set up task forces in each station to react to illegal gun possession. Use social media to show their pictures everywhere.
5. Set up a messenger number at each station that people can report crime or suspicion of crime.
6. Improve the forensic capabilities of the force. Dr Judith Mowatt and her team must be given wider scope and resources.
Jamaica, our paradise, is being threatened. Some sacrifices, in respect of human rights, will have to be made to stem the tide. I still continue to champion human rights, but most importantly we all have a part to play in saving our nation. We must act, Commissioner.
Dr J V Ford
Kingston 19
Too much is happening, Dr Williams
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