Deaths of mentally ill assailants unfortunate JCF Chaplain We're sorry

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CHAPLAIN of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and Commandant of the Jamaica Police Academy, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gary Welsh has apologised for the recent deaths of two persons believed to be of unsound mind.

The deceased have been identified only as 'Kartel' and 'Ram Pus'. The former was killed by police earlier this month while the latter was shot dead in February.

The Mandeville police confirmed that just over a week ago, 'Kartel' was shot and killed by one of their own in the Manchester capital after he became violent and stabbed the cop in the neck. Alleged eyewitnesses said the policeman had tried to dissuade 'Kartel' from harrassing shoppers at a plaza in the town.

A month earlier, on Saturday, February 19, police in Lacovia, St Elizabeth shot a man identified as 'Ram Pus' from the New Market area. The man, who residents said was thought to be mentally unstable, was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.

According to the Sunday Observer dated February 20, Deputy Superintendent Barrington Daley, crime chief in St Elizabeth, said the cops shot 'Ram Pus' in self-defence. Prior to their intervention, the man had reportedly assaulted a 77-year-old man with a piece of board and a machete, and had previously caused damage to property.

'Ram Pus' is alleged to have also attacked the police, inflicting chop wounds to one of the officers called to the scene.

Speaking with the Sunday Observer Friday, ACP Welsh said the incidents were not to be interpreted to mean the police were not equipped to effectively restrain mentally ill persons. He noted that to the contrary, each member of the JCF receives basic and in-service training to that effect. He stressed, however, that where the safety of the policeman is jeopardised, steps will be taken to "neutralise" the threat.

"Officer safety is paramount for us. We are trained to restrain mentally challenged persons, but we will neutralise any threat using the force necessary. We're sorry that these two were fatal (but) we have successfully restrained dozens of others that did not make the news," he said.

In addition, said Welsh, cops are guided by the JCF's use of force and safe encounter policies whether the threats come from sane persons or those mentally incapacitated.

The commandant suggested, however, that there was room for improvement in the level of service the organisation offered to persons with mental illnesses.

"Our standard operating procedure is to respond in partnership with a member of the health fraternity (but) often, there is no mental health person provided in that locale. Police work 24 hours per day and some mental health responders might not be available during 'silent' hours," he said.

"But, it's a work in progress", said Welsh.

"We are currently reviewing our delivery with the help of a joint select committee with the Ministry of Health."

It is unclear how many persons with mental disorders die violently each year as the police does not maintain such records.