JCF urged to publicly apologise to man mistakenly identified as 'wanted'

 

Security consultant Robert Finzi-Smith is calling for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to issue a public apology to Alando Gray for the ordeal he endured after his photograph was posted on its social media pages as part of its 'Wanted Wednesday' campaign. 

 

Mr. Gray said it was a case of mistaken identity. But he surrendered to the police and was released from lock-up four days later. 

 

His photograph, however, remained on the JCF's social media page for a week and a day after his release. 

 

Mr. Gray's plight was highlighted on Wednesday during a special Radio Jamaica News feature aired in the discussion segment of Beyond the Headlines, with host Dionne Jackson Miller. 

 

Reacting to the feature, Mr. Finzi-Smith said what happened to Mr. Gray is unacceptable. 

 

"At the very least - very, very least - the JCF needs to put out a public apology in all media that they put his photograph on. And if I was his lawyer, I would seek what I would consider to be sufficient compensation for what the young man has suffered," he suggested. 

 

But Mr. Finzi-Smith said the issue goes deeper.

 

"It means that if I get a picture of somebody somewhere and put on the JCF thing, he can end up being, what is the terminology - 'unalived' - and then people say, 'Oh, so sorry. Wrong person.' We have to be at least more professional than that, and there's very little excuse for having put it out like that without having it corroborated. Where did they get the picture? They need at the very least to indicate where they got the picture and under what circumstances, and if it is from his passport, PICA (The Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency) has some answering to do."

 

The photograph posted on the JCF's social media platform was similar to the image in Mr. Gray's passport. 

 

The JCF eventually removed the image from Instagram on June 10, 2025, minutes after 5 p.m. 

 

This followed several unsuccessful attempts by Radio Jamaica News to get an official comment from the JCF as to the reason for the error and delay in the removal of the photograph. 

 

And though the photograph has been removed from the JCF's social media pages, human rights advocate and attorney John Clarke pointed out the potential long-term impact the error may have on Mr. Gray's life. 

 

"You may have a scenario where his image is still on websites belonging to other persons and more importantly, it may still affect him when searches are made online in relation to whether or not he was ever arrested by the police, which he will always have to answer 'yes' to in relation to any material that deals with embassies, etc. And importantly, I don't think many citizens give sufficient credence to the fact that mistakes can be made and that this information will forever be in the public and will forever affect his name."

 

Attorney-at-law Alexander Shaw echoed similar sentiments, noting that despite whatever legal action Mr. Gray may take, the harm to his reputation is irreparable. 

 

"In 2025, when your image is published, certainly because of the manner in which police goes about arresting people, there's a fear of meeting the judge or your maker. So I believe all of that has to be taken into consideration. And... I believe the JCF should at the very least publish an apology immediately," said Mr. Shaw.

 

He and Mr. Clarke were speaking Wednesday on Beyond the Headlines.