Cop involved in fatal Manchester shooting removed from frontline duty

By Kimone Witter    

 

The off-duty police officer who was involved in the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Jemar Clarke in Lancaster, south Manchester, last week, has been removed from frontline duty.

 

Deputy Superintendent Colin Johnson, in charge of operations for Manchester, disclosed that the officer was transferred to another location, during a meeting with Mr. Clarke's family and residents in Lancaster Square on Tuesday afternoon.

 

Mr. Clarke was shot by the policeman after he allegedly drove threateningly towards a team of officers at an event at Winston Jones High School on March 27.

 

He had reportedly become involved in an altercation with persons at the event, and appeared to be drunk.

 

Residents have disputed the police's report on the shooting and mounted roadblocks in sections of the community to protest the manner in which Mr. Clarke was shot.

 

In an effort to ease tensions and restore calm to the community, residents were on Tuesday given the opportunity to vent their frustrations and get answers to a number of issues. 

 

"You would have pierced him in the front, which is okay because you are defending yourself.... But the bullet that was lodged in his neck? That's self-defence after three was fired in the front?" a resident questioned. 

 

"You're asking me a question, I was not on the scene. None of us here are the investigators, so the investigators will know what inspired. Everything that you say, we are hearing for the first time. And so that investigators will unearth that," responded DSP Johnson. 

 

The senior cop appealed for residents to allow the probe, being carried by the Independent Commission of Investigations, to take its course. 

 

"We are also grieving. You understand me? And so we are here to bond together so we can strengthen each other. So the building process started today and so we are going to work as a team going forward, work as a team to get road clear, alright?" he suggested to the community.    

 

Residents cleared the roads of debris following the meeting, after the police agreed to facilitate and support a candlelight vigil.

 

Human interest policing                                         

 

Political aspirant for Manchester Southern, Senator Peter Bunting, has called for the police to practice more human interest policing rather than the warrior approach.

 

Senator Bunting said allegations of aggression by the police towards residents, in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Jemar Clarke in Lancaster, have fuelled distrust. 

 

"What we want is more of the guardian approach. Don't wait until only when an unfortunate incident happens," he said, acknowledging that their mandate is to "maintain ongoing relations with the community so that when something happens, there are trusted bonds, there are trusted relationships already established."