Commish visits Police Academy after shooting incident

The Police Commissioner Owen Ellington is now visiting the Jamaica Police Academy near Spanish Town St Catherine following last night's shooting incident in which a 20-year-old male constable was shot dead.

Four other male constables and a female constable – all attached to the Mobile Reserve – were injured during that incident.

The High Command says the five injured cops have been hospitalised in stable condition.

The Commissioner has called a press conference for this morning at 11:45 to speak about the matter.

This morning, the Police Chaplain, Bishop Gary Welsh met with police personnel at the Academy.

The High Command says 27 police personnel were participating in a tactical training exercise about 11 p.m Wednesday when the incident occurred.

The Inspectorate of the Constabulary and the Independent Commission of Investigations are now probing the incidents.

In the meantime the Police Commissioner Owen Ellington has ordered that all weapons training be suspended at Police Academy.

He says the investigation by the police inspectorate will seek to determine whether established protocols and Standard Operating Procedures were adhered to.

The Police Commissioner says during the suspension of weapons training, the Tactical Training Village and the range at the police academy will be closed.

He says all established and related Standard Operating Procedures will also be thoroughly reviewed.

Wednesday incident follows Tuesday’s murder of a policeman by gunmen in Grange Lane in Portmore, St. Catherine.

It also brings to three the number of policemen who have died in shooting incidents since the start of the year.

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