Gun Crimes-Citizens and Minister Rattled

Details

Rawlston Pompey

Monday, 07 January 2013 02:30

By Rawlston Pompey

While Law enforcement lauded themselves over a “...General reduction in crimes,” though commending the Security Forces for the efforts, National Security Minister Senator Dr. Errol Cort, appeared bemused and demonstrated that he was “...No Fool in taking Comfort in Crime Reduction Figures,”

Tthat in some respects, may have been easily compared to a “...Curtsy” (slight bend of knees) House Speaker D. Giselle Isaac-Arrindell and Senate President Hazelyn Francis would normally accorded Her Excellency Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Tack. His consternation over that which terrified citizens saw as a Crime wave pronounced by “...unspeakable violence” that had “...rocketed skyward toward the distant planet Mars.” Describing “...the situation as untenable,” he was “...empathetic toward hurting and traumatized victims who had suffered serious or critical injuries” and sympathetic to grief-stricken families who had lost loved ones and sought with some measure of sincerity to assure the nation of counteractive initiatives in addressing violent crimes here onward.

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BEGINNING OF ACTION
It has been said that talking was not necessarily about “...avoiding action, but the beginning of action.” This was clearly shown by National Security Minister Senator Dr. Errol Cort. While the citizens were terror-stricken, official pressure had been exerted upon Law Enforcement to prove their “...mettle in 90 days.” Responding to the spate of “...Gun attacks” on defenceless citizens, the National Security Minister, reacted that the “...situation was untenable” and directed the immediate establishment and operations of an effective “...Crime Task Force.” The unchecked spate of “...Gun Crimes, the telling effects of which had “...spurred a state of apprehensiveness” in every citizen, forcing many into a state of discomfiture, pronounced by  “... deep feelings of insecurity.” Thus the Task Force was intended to bring respite to a citizenry almost besieged by rampant gunmen.

DELIVERABLES/TIMETABLES
Interestingly, prior to such pronouncement, research identified a commentator, seemingly writing under the pseudonym “...Morris.”  He had offered these suggestions as to a way forward in the fight against serious and deadly crimes. Seemingly detected some operational difficulties, objectively, he wrote in earnest to policy-makers that they may “...Establish Deliverables; ...Timelines/Deadlines; ... and Follow-up Reports from Commissioner of Police” [Caribarena: Jan. 4, 2013]. Reasonable inferences may have been drawn that he may also have been reminding National Security Minister Senator Dr. Errol Cort of the recent demise of former ex-pat Commissioner of Police Gary Nelson when Police Service Commission Chairman Stefan Winter felt that “...Deliverables” may have been “...Gappy and he had become too Yappy.”

FORMER JUSTICE MINISTER MESSAGE
When former Justice Minister Honourable Collin Derrick was quoted as referring to the “...Alphonse Breau Report” [Caribarena: January 2nd 2012], previously conducted to review the nation’s Law Enforcement Agency and its “...Administrative/Operational Effectiveness,”  he may have caused Law enforcement leadership slightly more worries than currently obtained with crime. Understanding what obtained then, he may have seen the agency adrift from a paradigm shift in effective leadership” in those who may have been seen as reaching the “...peak of their professional competencies.” Maybe ...just maybe, National Security Minister Honourable Senator Dr. Errol Cort may have been given a gentle reminder by his colleague that he may not sit idly “...While Gunmen Roam.” There was no doubt that the National Security Minister had no desire to see the nation burn, taking the initiative in ensuring that Law enforcement “...responds positively to the clarion call by the citizens.”

PURPOSES OF COMMENTARY
This commentary seeks to provide an understanding of the effects of “...Criminality on the Mind.” It also seeks to show how “...Citizens sometimes view Law enforcement effectiveness and possible factors affecting its performance, seen through a cursory look at “...public perceptions respecting “...partial statistical data” as obtained within this jurisdiction. There was no doubt that recent disclosure of “...Crime Figures” appeared to have been the focus of national attention, and particularly of National Security Minister Honourable Dr. Errol Cort. There was no doubt that the recent “...shocking cold-blooded murder” of Barbecue Chicken vendor “...Michael ‘Rocky’ Medica and the  unprovoked and senseless shooting of Taxi operator Joseph Jacob Jr. at his Fitches Creek home, had left bereaved family, many citizens and the National Security Minister“...frighteningly rattled.”

OCEAN OF TRANQUILITY
Clearly uninspired over the insignificant “...drop in the ocean of tranquility,” a reservedly troubled, Dr. Cort, reacting to the “...vicious cycle in Gun Crimes,” urged the Security forces personnel (primarily police-Civil authority with Military Aid) “...that there shall be Zero Tolerance.” However, even in their exuberance, personnel shall still be mindful of recent incidents in Guyana when “...rioters were riddled with bullets.” In the particular incident, not only were “...three people left dead, but twenty were seriously wounded.” In the end several officers were hurled before a probe [Kaieteur News: July 20, 2012] led by former Chief Justice Lensley Wolfe and former National Security Minister K.D. Knight” [Jamaica Observer: Aug.21, 2012]. This had often been a problem for many agencies across the globe which had been known to have militated against “...enthusiasm, commitment, morale and good community/public relations.” Law enforcement, therefore, was still expected to be civil and obliging and exercise good judgment.

REDUCTION IN FIGURES
It has often been said that “...The taste of the pudding is in the eating.” This, however, may only be experienced through “...Sensory Organs o r Receptors for taste” [Wikipedia]. These receptors were said to function primarily in differentiating that which may be “...Sweet; ...Salt ...Sour or ...Bitter.” These show when the particular “...Human Sense” was functioning properly. The same principle may be applied with figures and organizational management. These shall correspond with something- even the spending of money. For instance, when a person presents a “...Bill for $500,” wasn’t he expected to have it itemized for proper accountability? While no explanation was provided for the “...Reduction in Figures”  and/or how those reports were handled or “...Disposed,” neither the National Security Minister, nor the citizenry may have been aware how the “...Reduction in Crime Figures” came about. Conversely, reduction do not necessarily show evidence of “...Law enforcement effectiveness.”

POSSIBLE CRITICAL FACTORS
If only of “...academic interest,” it is to be understood that when “...Crime Figures” declined, there may have been “...two possible, but critical factors” at work (1) ...Pro-activity and Preventive Mechanisms” had been effectively working in tandem and as planned. This also include- “...Aggressive, effective utilization of resources and mobilization of -“...Men and machines; ...High Law enforcement visibility- foot/mobile patrols, particularly at “...Crime Hot-Spots; or (2) ... Citizens/Victims unwillingness in reporting crimes, entertaining the “...belief that nothing may be done by Law enforcement.” Law enforcement may run the risk of showing that it had “...Reduced Crimes Against Property,” while those citizens most feared “...got away.” Those most feared had often left victims, “...either seriously hurt, traumatized, hospitalized or dead. Crimes Against the Person” as citizens know include- “...Rape; ...Indecent Assault; ...Buggery; ...Robbery with Violence; ...Serious Shootings, wounding and Murder.”

CRIME FIGURES
For petty crimes “...Against Property,” for which victims may not report, though they may be worried and/or fearful, they would have suffered no injuries or death. In such case “...Crime Figures” may not “...necessarily reflect the “...level and/or frequency of criminal activities,” particularly in summary matters (triable by Magistrates).” There were many citizens who may not have reported the loss of a “...Bicycle, Television, cellular phone, Liquefied Petroleum (LPG) gas cylinder, a lawn mower, weed-whacker, electrical or mechanical tools or even a bunch of bananas? The list is in-exhaustive. These, however, are the less serious crime of “...Larceny.” Frequently, it may have been for obvious reason “...Loss of Confidence” that victims had chosen not to report these occurrences. Researchers have found, even within this jurisdiction“...empirical evidence of this contention of refusing to report “...Petty criminal acts.”

INNOCENT VICTIMS
Would there not be fear among the citizenry when innocent victims were being gunned down mercilessly and cold-bloodedly? Would there be no concern for their safety and protection when gunmen were neither made “...amenable to law,” or “...Coroner’s Inquests” conducted in determining whether or not Law enforcement may have been able to pass the litmus test of justification? There was absolutely no doubt, that the time has come for the removal of the “...constant threat and terror” posed by vicious gunmen and faced daily by citizens powerless in defending themselves. Added to their troubles, Law enforcement appeared overwhelmed, thus, forcing the National Security Minister into a proactive mode, a function necessarily performed by heads of security forces.

JAMAICAN EXPERIENCE
Overwhelmed by daily murders, research revealed that ace crime fighter, tough, fearless and decisive, Superintendent Renato Adams [Tenure 1967-2008], was assigned the “...unenviable, dangerous and unrewarding task” of heading the “...Crime Management Unit (CMU).” He knew what he was up against, unperturbed, rightly or wrongly, he operated by the philosophy that “...Brutal Murders Required Brutal Responses” [Jamaica Observer: Jan. 14, 2005]. In an operation, it was reported that gunmen had engaged the “CMU” in a raging gun battle that resulted in “...seven youths” paying the ultimate price for their adventurism. Coincidentally or ironically, Adams and seven of his men ended up before Judge and Jury on murder charges, which were subsequently dismissed [Jamaica Observer: Jan. 14, 2005]. The ace crime fighter subsequently blamed their predicament on “...Weak Police Leadership,” bowing to “...political and public pressure.” Consequently, the “CMU” team’s enthusiasm and commitment were fatally wounded. Back here people say “...Fight Fire with Fire.” Invariably fighting with that element of nature, many had also been consumed.

IMPORTANT QUOTES
For some strange reason, research conducted for this commentary revealed two significant quotes attributed to two distinguished former religious leaders, Anglo-Irish philosopher, Bishop of Cloyne George Berkeley [1685-1753], American Clergyman, activist, prominent leader in the African/American Civil Rights Struggles, Martin Luther King Jr. [1929-1968]. The former was said to have been credited with the theory that “...Some truths there are, so near and obvious to the mind that a man need only opens his eyes to see them.” Conversely, some “...half-truths even when disguised in deception, with eyes closed people see them.” The most profound quote however, was that of Martin Luther King Jr. who posited, “...Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than ...Sincere Ignorance and ...Conscientious Stupidity.” The martyr Luther King Jr. could never have been directing these to the animals of the fields nor birds of the air. Instead he may have seen humans displaying “...ignorance, albeit with sincerity” and “...stupidity” with “...consciousness” of their shortcomings and/or follies. This quote may be to the benefit of commentator [Caribarena] “...John French II” for his collection.



EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
There may be no suggestions that the “...Crime Reduction Figures”  presented to the nation were not consistent with that which may have been obtained from the official Crime Registers. However, those familiar with the “...processes of collation” may know that authenticated “...Credible Statistical Data” may be based, not upon “...Guestimation,”  but upon “...Actual Data” resulting from official records of (1) “...Apprehension; ...Detection and Prosecutions; (2) ...Convictions; (3) ...Cases Pending Trial; (4)  and ...Cases Pending Investigations.” As it affects “...Crimes Against Property, citizens were invariably “...heartened” by “...Recovery and/or Restitution of Property.” Those who understood “...Crime Management” may acknowledge that these were some of the “...Factors” that in the eyes of the public may be seen as representative of the “...Efficiency and Effectiveness” of Law enforcement. While citizens were sometimes led into a “...false sense of belief,” the effectiveness of Law enforcement may not necessarily be “...measured by (a) “...the number of Arrests effected,” but by “...the number Prevented.”

SHOOTING UP-CRIME FIGURES DOWN
When the media featured the frightening headlines “...Shootings up, but Crime Figures Down” [Caribarena Today: Jan.4, 2013], Law enforcement may have rightly or wrongly exposed itself to citizen’s wrath, but also its “...inability and/or ineffectiveness in corralling loose gunmen” at the nation’s overcrowded lone penal institution. Further, if nothing else, Law Enforcement may have realized that such acknowledgement were likely to have provoked negative responses to the current situation. Logic, therefore, suggests that citizens, most certainly, would have been more concerned over that which had “...Rocketed Up in Figures,” than that which “...Somersaulted Down.” For many observers, what went “...Down” had hardly brought “...Comfort to Victims,” let alone fools or even impacting their safety or lessening the plight of unkempt and unhygienic vagrants scavenging City Bins for leftovers in satisfaction of their “...physiological need,” a “...survival strategy,” as “...Street Pastors infrequently offered Prayers” for their redemption from squalor.

AMBIVALENCE AND AMBIGUITY
Research showed that across the globe, that “...Police and police-work have often been received with ambivalence and ambiguity by people.”  Many people believed that “...They represent alternatively and simultaneously civil order, repression and help; ....They are greeted variously with fear, respect, warmth and hatred [Paul G. Shane: Police and the People”  1980: 2]. It is, therefore, of vital important that the negatives “...Fear and Hatred” contained in those irrefutable observations be properly addressed, since the relationship with the public is one of the determining factors in whether the Police succeed or fail in their crime fighting efforts. . It is without debate  that this shall be so since “...In times of rapidly rising crime, only a good public reputation will in the long term will enable the Police to deal with crime and other problems”  [Blake ; 1989:11]. Thus, it would appear that the “...mere presentation of figures” might not necessarily be sufficient in convincing a suspicious and terrified citizenry, wincing at an escalating “...Serious Crime Rate,” seen by citizens as spiralling out of control.

GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION
In fact the revelations reflected a “...graphic representation of spiralling Gun Crimes,” second only to rape (21), that National Security Minister Senator Honourable Dr. Errol Cort, had acknowledged, was more of a concern to his office, than the “...FIGURES” that were reportedly “...REDUCED” in other categories. In confirmation of such view, personnel who were exposed to a critical part of Law enforcement training “...Sensitivity,” may know that the two main categories of crime that affected people “...Directly or Indirectly” were those (1) ...Against the Person; (2) ...”Against Property,” that produces different reactions in victims and by extension, members of the wider community. This situation may very well have been the reason for the “...referral or re-visitation of the Alphonse Breau Recommendations” as suggested by former Justice Minister Senator Collin Derrick.

CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY-EFFECTS
In understanding the impact of crimes, is to understand what hurts victims most. “...Crimes Against Property,” for instance, primarily affects “...Deprivation of its use” either through “...robbery; ...thievery; ...damage or destruction.” Then there are “...inconvenience and ...cost of replacement.” These are troubling enough, but bring no physical injuries and pain, save and except there was “...Aggravation”-use of force against victims. House holders, vehicle, bicycle, cellular phones owners, agricultural and animal farmers, fishermen, business operators, vendors, contractors, Board of Education Secretary D. Giselle Isaac-Arrindell, all know what obtained when thieves struck, be it at home, on the streets, at business places and schools. Then there was APUA that also knows what happened to its “...copper materials.” In most of these cases, the effects of the harm were usually “...psychological”-  fear-real or imaginary of being further victimized.”

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IRRECOVERABLE PROPERTY
It is to be understood, that unlike that which were seen in “...Directed Movies or Television Series,” there may be some “...unsolvable crimes.” Similarly, some properties may be recovered, where “...disposal and//or concealment” might be difficult for both “...perpetrators and receivers” of stolen properties. Some property, example “...money and jewellery” may also be “...irrecoverable,” if not reported immediately and pursued vigorously, before the culprits arrived at “...adult entertainment clubs or houses of ill-repute or shoe store.” Though citizens may take the attitude not to report crime, it does affect “...public confidence, but not necessarily Law enforcement’s capabilities and/or willingness in discharging their legal obligations with promptitude. Such attitude was to be seen as militating against their responses, thereby allowing for criminals to remain free to attack other victims with impunity. This necessitates change in attitudes in both citizens and Law enforcement for effectiveness, protection, safety and security.

CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON
Contrastingly, “...Crimes Against the Person- Violent attacks on the “...human body-the physical being;” ...the brutality committed and/or the “...violence inflicted with or without weapons. This includes the vicious crime of rape against women and girls and that which Catholic Bishop, His Grace Kenneth Richards had been advocating for decriminalization. Then there were the “...a nature and gravity- Actual bodily injury- fractures, wounds; ...Grievous injuries- burns from hot-water and/or corrosive substances, choking and bruises; ...Maiming;-crippling; ...loss of hearing; ...sight and limb.” Attendant to these were the “...persistent, excruciating and/or agonizing and persistent pains and discomfort. Then there was that which had brought “...Shock and Awe” [Bernard Shaw], the grief and sorrow from the senseless, heinous and gruesome Murders.

GRIM REMINDERS
There were grim reminders of the tragic murders of “...Dorothy Prince and Melissa Lewis, Alwyn Robin, Alex Riviere and Michael ‘Rocky’ Medica” were among the nine who had perished at the hands of “...identified and unidentified gun men.” Then there were the frightening spate of rape. These crimes produced hurt, equally as much as they had provoked mass protests across the globe.  While there had been protest marches within this jurisdiction the case of the “...Vicious Rape in India,” had moved many to tears, with many people taking to the streets of India in expressing abhorrence over the dastardly crime. Writes Ravi Nessan “...The attack on the 23 year-old woman who died of ‘...severe internal injuries’ has ‘’’triggered daily protests” with protesters demanding action” [Dec. 16, 2013].  Similarly, within this jurisdiction, Rape had forced the Group “...Women Against Rape” (WAR) through one of its members Alexandrina Wong to express equal consternation over its prevalence within the society.

TRUTHS AND PRE-CONCEIVED IDEAS
Notwithstanding “...Figures” that may have been documented as representing “...numeral facts,” the complex nature of the human mind has often caused distortions of the mind. For instance, in developing the point, in a test on “...Pre-conceived Ideas,” participants at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police College were provided with a four-line document with a single paragraph.  Allotted the same time in discerning the number of “...Fs” appeared therein.  Each student produced answers between “...2, 3. 4.” What they had revealed was consistent with the truth of that which they “...actually saw.” At the end of the exercise, the presenter advised that the answers provided by the participants were that which they “...actually had in their minds,” but were not “...factual” as to the number of “...Fs,” totaling “...5.” In conclusion, he simply said “...The eyes see and the ears hear what is already in the mind.” Singing legend and the”... immortal King of Soul,” Otis Ray Redding knew that his “...eyes did not fool him” over that which he “...saw last night about another man’s arms,” before tragically making his exit off the entertainment stage on that foggy, freezing December night, when his Beech-craft plane crashed into a US lake [Sept. 9, 1941- Dec.10, 1967]. Such adventure was no fault of the mind, but seemingly one of poor human judgment. Invariably, this occurred in some organizations.

BUILDING CONFIDENCE/TRUST
Raymond Momboisse, a researcher had posited for the benefit of Law enforcement administrators and/or managers, that which might be done in the restoration of lost or waning “...Public Confidence.”  The researcher believed that in building rapport, citizens trust and confidence “...The Police must inform the public fully, (without ‘Perverting the Ends of Justice) by all the means available, of the Police and their work, and promote frequent conference with community organizations in discussing laws, policies and procedures of mutual interest” [Community Relations: 1975:182]. Invariably, there were problems distinguishing “...whose interest was being served, particularly over purely mundane issues.” This was when Law enforcement, citizens and tourists usually got entangled in “...hand to hand combat,” while robbers wreak havoc on the citizens with “...machete, knives and guns.” The recent “...brutal gun attack” on a sixty-two year-old, unarmed Security Guard,” [Jan. 5, 2013], speak to such “...havoc.”

CONCLUSION
While authorities search for remedies, recent disclosures on the disconcerting “...Crime situation” speak to several observable possibilities;

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(1) ...Demoralized Law enforcement agency, due to environmental interventions;
(2) ...Understaffing and chronic lack of resources;
(3) ...requisite paradigm shift in organizational leadership;
(4); “...Deficiencies, weaknesses and/or ineffective planning within the Enforcement mechanisms.”
(5) ...Ineffective Crime Fighting Strategies- conventionally based on Prevention;
(6) ...Void in counter-active crime fighting measures-strategies, methodologies;
(7) Pro-active and timely responses and/or approachability to criminality;
(8)...Lack of support and cooperation resulting from loss of public confidence and trust;
(9) ....Inappropriate or ineffective utilization of available resources;
(10) ...Gross organizational Indiscipline; ...Absenteeism;
(11) ...Lack of  purpose, direction;
(12) ...Lack of commitment resolve and drive  ;
(13) ...Lack of an environment conducive to meaningful professional development and growth;
(14) ....Failure in showing recognition and/or meritoriously offering morale-boosting incentives/rewards. Then there were the other critical factors,
(15) “...Aggressive apprehension and prosecution of “...emboldened gunmen,” who clearly may have capitalized on these apparent deficiencies. 

These were “...identifiable critical factors” that were known to have weakened the “...resolve of personnel and had impacted the “...effectiveness of many agencies across the globe, thereby allowing for criminals to “...freely roam, and with impunity unleashed terror on society, while wreaking havoc on defenceless and terrified citizens.” In any jurisdiction, no “...Crime Plan” may work effectively without addressing these impediments to effective Policing and/or Crime Fighting.

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