JCF gets investigative lessons from FBI

Sleuths in the Jamaica Constabulary Force have received a major boost to their arsenal after receiving enhanced training in evidence gathering from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey said the training, which took place over one week, was intense and involved local partners.

"It's basically to sharpen their skills, and sometimes there might be something missing; there may be some small gaps and I think those gaps were filled," Bailey said.

He told THE STAR that the decision to hold the week-long training of the detectives followed the conclusion of the Klansman/One Don Gang trial last year. Fifteen members of the gang, including Andre 'Blackman' Bryan were convicted of various crimes under the anti-gang law. A total of 33 persons were charged on an indictment with 25 counts under the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Act and the Firearms Act.

Bailey, speaking to the THE STAR following Friday's graduation ceremony for the cops at Twickenham Park, St Catherine, said the police considered some of the comments made during the trial and have sought to strengthen its capabilities. A total of 30 investigators attached to various divisions of the force participated in the training.

"As you know, we had that gang matter that the chief justice [Bryan Skyes] had made some observations in terms of these weaknesses, and it was coming out of that that I reached out to INL (Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs), because I thought there are some things that we needed to improve on," Bailey related.

The senior crime-fighter said that the police officers who were a part of the training were introduced to new methods of evidence collection, and Bailey is hopeful that "better- quality cases will be brought before the courts".

"Whilst we have some capacity here, we decided to seek some international support and INL was willing to provide the support for us making some FBI trainers available, presenting the course to the officers," he said further.

US Ambassador to Jamaica N. Nick Perry said the training exercise "marks an essential step towards enhancing Jamaica's ability to uphold justice and maintain the integrity of its legal system... as the collection of evidence is the cornerstone upon which cases are built".

Last Friday, Tesha Miller and 22 men were arrested, charged and indicted in the Home Circuit Court under anti-gang legislation. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the men are alleged to be a part of a criminal organisation - the Klansman Gang, 'Tesha Faction', allegedly led by Miller - and have reportedly participated in several criminal activities between August 5, 2017, and August 22, 2022, in St Catherine.

Last December, the police said that more than 800 people have been killed by members of the Klansman Gang since 2014. At the time, Bailey, addressing a press conference, described the Spanish Town-based gang as "vicious".