JFJ chides Police Federation Chairman for "Terrorist" comment

 

The human rights organization, Jamaicans for Justice, has characterised as "reckless," recent remarks by Chairman of the Police Federation Arleen McBean.

 

Sergeant McBean, speaking at the funeral service for Detective Corporal Garfield Letford last Saturday, chided JFJ over a protest planned for April 29 against the high rate of police fatal shootings.  

 

She said the watchdog group should also hold placards for the families of police officers gunned down by criminals during its protest; otherwise she regards the body "a true terrorist."

 

"Don't be a cause of the problem; be a part of the solution... I would love, at your peaceful demonstration coming up on April 29, you have placards to speak about the... reductions in major crimes. I would love for you to have the placard telling men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice 'Thank you!' I would love for you to have placards to speak to the families of police officers who have been gunned down by criminals. If you can't do that, I classify you as a true terrorist."

 

Executive Director of JFJ Mickel Jackson, responding Monday on Radio Jamaica's Beyond the Headlines, said the comment was inappropriate, adding that she hoped "good sense will prevail and the Police Federation Chairman will seek to withdraw that comment."

 

"There's a particular meaning of terrorist in law and there's a particular meaning of terrorist when it comes to public sentiments," she observed.

 

Accordingly, she expressed the hope "that it was never the Police Federation Chair's intent for there to be an inciting of violence against the staff and stakeholders of JFJ, but that is what her comment has resulted in."