The accidental discharge of firearms by law enforcement personnel has resulted in injuries to nine officers between January and September of 2023, as reported by the security forces watchdog, the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM).
During the nine months, INDECOM stated that there were 23 incidents of accidental weapon discharge by law enforcement officials.
The INDECOM Commissioner Hugh Faulkner expressed heightened concern for the agency due to these incidents having the potential to seriously harm civilians, the officers involved, or their colleagues.
He spoke on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at INDECOM’s quarterly press briefing at the commission’s New Kingston office.
The commission reported that between January and June of this year, there were 13 incidents of accidental firearm discharge by law enforcement personnel.
When asked to provide a comparative analysis of accidental shooting incidents between Jamaica’s security forces and similar law enforcement agencies in other jurisdictions, Faulkner stated that the agency had not yet conducted the research. However, he mentioned that INDECOM was not opposed to conducting such a study.
“I would not rely on any comparative analysis to find solace in the data. When nine officers were injured, could it have been different somehow? We believe ‘yes’. We do not want it to escalate into something more serious, even when it comes to injuries, which can have debilitating consequences,” he said.
Hugh Faulkner, INDECOM Commissioner
Faulkner urged members of the security forces to use their firearms safely, not only for their own well-being but also for the safety of the public and anyone they come into contact with.
He also highlighted that Section 11 of the INDECOM Act mandates that the security forces report any incident resulting in injury.
Further, Hugh Faulkner said body-worn cameras were present at only one of the 106 shooting incidents involving police since the start of the year. He believes that using the devices would benefit citizens and law enforcement officers.