AP -Jamaican police storm airliner to capture gunman

From my archive of press clippings:

AP

Jamaican police storm airliner to capture gunman


By HOWARD CAMPBELL, Associated Press Writer

Howard Campbell, Associated Press Writer – Mon Apr 20, 4:22 pm ET

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A disoriented young man with a gun forced his way past security and barged onto a jetliner destined for Cuba, taking the crew hostage, firing a bullet that grazed the co-pilot's face and demanding to be flown off the island, witnesses and police said Monday.

Read the whole article here.

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Associated Press writers Mike Melia in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Rob Gillies in Toronto contributed to this report.

JO - Better times ahead for police force

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Observer

Better times ahead for police force

KEN CHAPLIN

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Commissioner of Police Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin loved his distinguished beard. He cultivated it for 30 years while in the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard. However, the day he got his uniform as commissioner, he shaved off his beard because it is a long-standing policy of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) that policemen should not sport a beard. He got much admiration from members of the force and civilians for falling in line in spite of the fact that he heads the force. This goes to show how simple things can create a favourable impact.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"It is not new for officers of the JDF to be appointed to the JCF to beef up the organisation. There was RT "Rocky" Michelin, commissioner from 1953-58, a firm officer."

&

"Those were the colonial days when the sun had just begun to set on the British Empire. Then there were Gordon Langdon, a fine commissioner whom no government could push around; Flight Lieutenant Vin Bunting, deputy commissioner who served in the Royal Air Force, an officer with an incisive mind; Neville Ernandez, assistant commissioner, who granted no favours; SO "Soapy" Day, senior superintendent, a jolly officer; fearless Owen Stephenson, a rough assistant commissioner who had a reputation for going anywhere at any time, and Commissioner Colonel Trevor MacMillan, who brooked no political interference, and who is now minister of national security."

JO - Review team recommends sweeping police changes

From my archive of press clippings:

Jamaica Observer

Review team recommends sweeping police changes

Saturday, June 07, 2008

THE panel commissioned by the former government last year to undertake a review of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has recommended sweeping changes to the force, including a change of name, uniform, insignias and culture and that the force adopts a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption.

Read the whole article here.

Snippet(s):

"The 53-member team, which was headed by Northern Caribbean University (NCU) President Herbert Thompson, among its recommendations, said there should be extraordinary security vetting of personnel in the force.

These include automatic polygraph testing of senior officers and staff in 'sensitive positions'.

It also suggested that the constabulary be renamed the Jamaica Police Force (JPF)."