JFJ takes issue with Chang's repeated 'shoot to kill' comment

 

Human rights lobby group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) says Prime Minister Andrew Holness should rein in National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang for repeating his shoot to kill comment.

 

Speaking at the LASCO/Jamaica Constabulary Force Saluting Our Heroes Awards ceremony, held in New Kingston on Friday, Dr. Chang urged police officers to defend themselves when they are confronted by armed thugs.

 

Dr. Chang added that the only time the gunmen should have left, is the time it takes to do the post-mortem.

 

Executive Director of JFJ, Mickel Jackson, said Dr. Chang's comment is unbecoming for the office that he holds, adding that it also goes against the JCF's use of force policy.

 

She explained that while police officers should defend themselves against attacks by criminals, they should respond with reasonable force. 

 

"What the minister is saying and what one can reasonably assume from such a statement that even if that individual is disarmed as a result of the action taken by the police, is the minister then saying that the law enforcement  officer should basically go and stand up over that individual and ensure that they are dead? That is extrajudicial killing and we are cautioning the minister against making such utterances," she asserted. 

 

Ms. Jackson, who was a guest Monday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106, said Jamaica recorded 116 police fatal shootings from January to October this year.

 

Last year, Dr. Chang urged members of the security forces to shoot to kill when challenged by gunmen, noting that the country was spending too much to treat criminals at public-health facilities.

 

Ms. Jackson said Prime Minister Holness did not say anything last year in response to Dr. Chang's statement and is questioning whether this is a policy position of the government. 

 

She warned police officers could be in trouble with the law for using excessive force.

 

"I want to caution the good law enforcement officers, the women and the men who defend us, that remember now, you have no guaranteed legal aid by the state. And when you're placed before the court, Dr. Chang or others will not be defending you, you're going to have to be standing that cost on your own. So I think we have to be careful. We have to be careful what message we're sending."  

 

The JFJ executive director is also concerned that it would be difficult in some cases to verify the police's version of incidents even with body-worn cameras. 

 

"You recall in February 2023, it was the first time INDECOM (Independent Commission of Investigations) made mention that they got footage from, I think, two cameras - in February 2023. And then since that, INDECOM had indicated that when you had a police involved shooting, they could not get the footage from the camera because guess what, the police officer didn't turn on the camera. 

 

"And by the way, just in case you didn't know, if police officers overseas don't turn on their cameras, it can result in disciplinary measures, including you being removed from the force, but not in Jamaica," she pointed out.