“A Crazy Idea”: The Operational Struggle for Police Accountability

In Jamaica, conversations regarding policing and law enforcement have reached a critical point, exemplified by high-profile cases like that of Constable Andrew Wilson, who was charged with the murder of 45 year old Latoya Bulgin following a protest in St. James on May 7, 2026. This incident, which was captured on video, fueled national outrage and underscored the urgent need for transparency in the daily operations of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). 

Recent data reveals that fatal shootings by the security forces have reached alarming levels, with 311 people killed in 2025 alone, representing the highest annual total on record. This trend continued into 2026, with the month of April recording 36 fatalities, the highest monthly tally in over three years. A particularly tense moment occurred in June 2026, when 11 men were killed within a 24-hour period, including a quadruple killing during an operation at a quarry near the Retirement dump in St. James. While JCF stated the operation was an intelligence-driven response to scrap metal trade conflicts, grieving relatives denied the men were involved in any shootout, describing victims Jahmar Ashman and Brian Fairclough as innocent watchmen. Click here to read article.

Public skepticism is further driven by the attitudes of leadership and the everyday behavior of officers on the ground, and there has been a growing debate surrounding body-worn cameras. Citizens with complaints surrounding authority abuse, such as flirting at traffic stops, accepting bribes, or confrontational tones during routine encounters, also demand change regarding police accountability, but senior officials have made statements that many find concerning. Deputy Prime Minister Horace Chang dismissed the mandatory use of cameras when confronting gunmen armed with M16s as a "crazy idea," arguing that they make officers a target. 

Simultaneously, Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has reminded the public that lethal force against a fleeing suspect can be considered "reasonable force" under common law if it is the only way to stop them. This rhetoric, paired with the reality that only 3.4% of police officers charged by INDECOM are ultimately convicted, creates a sense that true accountability remains elusive.

Commissioner Hugh Faulkner has pointed out that while approximately 1,500 cameras are deployed daily, they are largely concentrated within the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch for commercial district patrols rather than in the remote communities where questionable shootings often occur. In contrast, the JCF High Command, led by Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake, has mounted a defiant defense of the BWC program, noting a $2 billion investment in digital infrastructure. 

Image Source: Jamaica Constabulary Force

Image Source: Jamaica Constabulary Force

Despite these reassurances of progress, a significant gap remains between announced procurement and effective operational use. INDECOM confirmed that no body-worn cameras were used by the officers involved in the five incidents that left 11 dead in June 2026. Furthermore, an investigative report revealed a 100% failure rate to activate body-worn cameras during shooting incidents in 2024, where they had been issued. Officers have provided various excuses for the lack of footage, ranging from not having a clip for their uniform to simply "forgetting" to turn the device on after using the bathroom. This lack of visual evidence is compounded by other procedural lapses; for instance, 29% of fatal planned operations between 2022 and 2024 were conducted without a search warrant, and many used obsolete legislation. There are also disturbing reports of JCF officers removing or destroying private CCTV equipment from the scenes of shooting incidents.

That leads to the question: if body cameras fail to consistently capture what happens, or if footage is missing or unclear, what can truly protect the truth in police encounters?