INDECOM probes if cop shot up party

A St James policeman is now under investigation, after he allegedly discharged his private firearm while attending a party being held in breach of COVID-19 protocols.

Reports are that the lawman was at a party which was still going at 2 a.m. on Tuesday. The nightly curfew is 11 p.m. It is alleged that the off-duty cop got into an argument with a businessman.

It is further alleged that the cop pulled his licensed firearm and fired shots in the air which sent patrons scampering, while the businessman jumped into his vehicle and sped away.

The policeman allegedly chased the man before firing another salvo at the vehicle. The man drove to the Freeport Police Station where he made a report.

Alleged eyewitnesses told THE WEEKEND STAR that the lawman returned to the venue and fired more shots.

Errol Chattoo, director of complaints at the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) - western region, told THE WEEKEND STAR that an investigation has been launched.

Spent casings recovered

"The complainant visited our office and made a report against the police officer, and a team from the office visited the scene which was processed, and a number of spent casings recovered," Chattoo said. "We would have also learned that the officer in question discharged his weapon on multiple occasions while at the party, and he was asked to report to the Freeport Police Station and to turn over his firearm at the CIB (Criminal Investigations Branch), which he did, and the weapon has now been sent off to the lab in Kingston for ballistics testing." Chattoo said it is also alleged that the policeman was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

"It was brought to our attention that this was not the first incident where reports of misconduct have been made to INDECOM against this particular police officer," he said.

One senior cop told THE WEEKEND STAR that the police are aware of past reports made about the constable.

"The very fact that he was actually off duty while attending a party being held at 2 a.m. is a clear breach of what the Jamaica Constabulary Force stands for and also a breach against the Disaster Risk Management Act," the cop said. "These are the kinds of conduct that the police force is trying to move away from, and if these allegations are in fact true, this officer will be dealt with according to law."