Organiser of GoFundMe for cops killed in Horizon Park apologises for not contacting their families before setting up account

 

The organiser of a GoFundMe page which was established to assist the family of the policemen killed in the June 19 operation in Horizon Park, St. Catherine has accepted that protocols were not followed in setting up the account.

 

Chairman of the GoFundMe account, Dr. Rupert Francis, who is the head of the Jamaica Diaspora Crime Intervention and Prevention Task Force and a former captain in the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), has apologised for not contacting the families prior to establishing the account. 

 

The parents of Constable Decardo Hylton, who was killed during the operation, said they did not sanction the fundraiser.

 

Speaking Monday morning on Radio Jamaica's call-in programme, Hotline, Dr. Francis said contact has since been made with the families of the policemen.

 

He said the family of Constable Hylton has agreed to have a scholarship fund established in his name.

 

"We agreed, we said that was the whole idea. We want to see a permanent fund set up (for) policemen and women who fall into this category or whatever category. I think for building morale when something like this happens, it's so crucial that that's why maybe our emotions overran our reason and we decided to go ahead and set up this fund to help our brothers and sisters," he said. 

 

He pointed out that his organisation would not be responsible for whatever scholarship fund Constable Hylton's family would support. 

 

Constable Hylton's image was also removed from the GoFundMe account at the request of his family. 

 

Dr. Francis told Hotline host Emily Shields that the money raised via the GoFundMe account will be given to the family of slain cop Corporal Dane Biggs and the other two officers - including Superintendent Leon Clunis - who were injured in the Horizon Park attack. 

 

He said the account has so far garnered more than US$750.