Police under attack - High Command advises cops to be on high alert

The High Command of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has advised members of the police force to be on high alert as there is an increase in the number of threats against the police in the past couple of weeks.

In a statement, the High Command said it is urging police personnel to take threat assessment seriously, and raise their level of awareness.

"Police officers are being advised to take the necessary measures to keep themselves and their families safe," the statement said.

The police said that the security and intelligence branch of the force has learnt that the police have received threats in the parishes of St Thomas, St Catherine, and St James. The police said that the threats are in response to the recent fatal shootings in these parishes.

The warning also came on the heels of an attack on the home of a policeman in Portmore, St Catherine, on Tuesday night by gunmen who were reportedly seeking to avenge the death of a wanted man in the Sunshine City earlier that day.

The men, who were said to be wearing masks, invaded the residence of the cop and opened fire, injuring three persons.

The victims include a female police inspector and her 23-year-old daughter, who is a district constable. The inspector's husband, who is a police sergeant, was not home at the time of the attack.

According to the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, about 8:20 p.m., the women were attacked and shot by gunmen. The gunfire was returned, and the attackers were repelled.

The women were taken to hospital for treatment.

Deliberate attacks

During a subsequent search of the area, one man believed to be one of the attackers was found with gunshot wounds. He was transported to hospital for treatment.

The St Catherine South police have taken one man into custody in connection with the shooting.

Meanwhile, head of the CCU, Stephanie Lindsay, told THE STAR that it is very likely that any member of the force could be attacked in a reprisal.

"We have seen deliberate attacks on members of the security forces to the extent that it is happening so frequent that the rank has elevated the threat level to extreme. It is very likely that any police officer could be attacked by these persons, who are trying to treat it like a reprisal," Lindsay said.

She said that a number of threats have been issued also on social media, following the fatal shooting of a gang leader in St James last Tuesday.

Six police personnel have been killed since the beginning of 2017.