64 / 494
63
▪
11.43 p.m.
Police Officers in MPD 03 shot near Nannyville and the
National Stadium;
▪
11.50 p.m.
Police Corporal shot.
4.12.
That log of events demonstrates beyond peradventure the
widespread attacks against the JCF on 23 May. But it is also appropriate to set
forth, in narrative form, how those events unfolded from the perspective of
senior police officers.
ACP LEON ROSE
4.13.
The story of what happened in West Kingston on 23 May is best
told through the evidence of ACP Leon Rose. He was the commanding officer of
the Mobile Reserve section of the JCF, stationed at Harmon Barracks. The
Mobile Reserve is the arm of the JCF that gives support to territorial
commanders. It is a tactical response unit geared towards the maintenance of
public order in Jamaica and is especially trained and deployed at the request of
territorial commanders in teams or groups to perform specific operations.
4.14.
About 8.30 a.m. on Sunday, 23 May 2010, ACP Rose attended a
meeting at the office of the Commissioner of Police. CDS Saunders was also in
attendance. The meeting was informed that the Denham Town police station
was under intense gun attack and shots were heard coming from West Kingston.
Denham Town station is a Divisional Headquarters of the JCF and significant
assets and prisoners were there. On hearing of the attack, ACP Rose left the
meeting and returned to Harmon Barracks.
4.15.
He assembled a contingent of about 35 police officers and he and
Supt. Budhoo briefed the officers. They were given the information that the
Denham Town Police Station was under attack and a number of places were
blocked. ACP Rose said, “We needed to respond and clear the blockages.” He
continued –