Tonight at least two police officers are under investigation for the killing of Jamaican 41 year old O’Neil Jones. As we reported, he was killed at 12:47 on Saturday morning when police responded to the report of a bar brawl in Ladyville. The officers claim he had a weapon and they shot him while multiple eyewitnesses say he ran and they shot him in the back. The matter is now in the hands of police – which considering it is a police killing – is not at all too re-assuring. But today the CEO in the Ministry of National Security and the former second in charge of the Police Department – Allen Whylie said that the police have the track
record to show that they can investigate their own for wrongful deaths.
Allen Whylie, CEO - Ministry of National Security
“I am certain witnesses who are there are coming forward, statements are being taken and as soon as that file has been compiled to the satisfaction of the investigator, that file will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions and as the impartial authority, the DPP’s directive will be carried out to the fullest.”
Jules Vasquez,
“Are they able to conduct a sufficiently impartial investigation into one of their own?”
Allen Whylie,
“I believe so. The Police Department has resiliency, it is not the first time that they will be investigating one of their own. We do have officers in past who based on police investigations have been convicted and who are incarcerated. Again we must remember that whatever is the final conclusion, the DPP has oversight so if the police has not been professional and has not done a thorough investigation, again that will be surfaced by the DPP and will be dealt with.”
