Newsmaker: Motorist condemned for mowing down cop at traffic stop

This week’s overall development as Newsmaker of the Week is the attack on a policeman who was mowed down by a motorist during a traffic stop at a section of Old Hope Road in St Andrew on Thursday. 

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has since launched a criminal investigation into the matter in a bid to locate the yet unknown motorist.

The constable, who is assigned to the Beat Officer Patrol Division (BOPD) of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), has reportedly been released from hospital after intense medical scrutiny up to Friday.

Jamaicans and law enforcers have widely condemned the actions of the motorist, with the proverbial appeal being made to motorists in general to follow the instructions of the police during traffic stops.

Reports are that about 6:10pm, the cop was in the process of prosecuting a motorist for a perceived road traffic breach, when the driver drove off, hitting the lawman to the ground.

The officer’s body was then dragged by the vehicle after it became pinned underneath the motorcar for a short time.

The motorist then sped away from the scene, leaving the injured officer on the side of the road.

He was assisted to a Corporate Area hospital, where he was admitted in a stable condition. 

The Police High Command, in statement on Friday, strongly condemned the actions of the motorist, labelling it all as an “attack” on the police.

“We denounce this senseless act of violence against our officers and reaffirm our commitment to upholding the law, safeguarding our citizens, and maintaining order,” the high command stated.

“Any form of violence towards our officers will be met with the strictest application of the law,” it added.

The police said the probe into the incident is “well advanced”.

Chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, Sergeant Arleen McBean, also condemned the incident, while urging members of the JCF to be vigilant as they carry out their lawful duties.

“You know the high risk factor associated with policing in Jamaica, it’s quite evident to every citizen of Jamaica, and I implore my colleagues to be vigilant out there, strategic, and critical thinkers out there,” McBean advised in a radio interview. 

“I implore the citizens of Jamaica just to have that level of understanding and respect, and comply (with the police). Nobody is above the law,” she pointed out.

Social media users, for the most part, echoed the sentiments of the law enforcers on the near-tragic developments involving the police officer.

“That’s attempted first-degree murder,” a male Instagrammer wrote.

“As much as I sometimes can’t deal with the nasty behaviour of some traffic cops, this is still someone’s father, son, brother or uncle. All he or she (the driver) had to do was take the traffic ticket,” another man wrote.

A woman stated: “Police are literally still a human though. This is sad”. 

In response, a woman opined: “(Name of Instagram user) hence why they (the police) need not to stand in front of vehicles caz (because) they ain’t Ironman.” 

Seemingly agreeing with that point, a man stated that, “I am tired of warning the police that they can’t stand in front of vehicles to signal them to stop, or stand in front them otherwise, because at the end of the day, not everyone respects law and order, and that’s just the reality of the world we live in. 

“The police must be cautious, protect their lives, and remember that they are humans,” he added. 

On Facebook, a female user said she was “disheartened” by the responses from persons on the actions of the motorist in the viral video. 

“It is so, so sad and disheartening to see people really a defend the motorist! Police a do him lawful duty to protect unuh same people from these menace on the road,” she said.

Continuing, she asked: “How would any of you feel to see your son or daughter being hit down and left for dead on the road?” 

Another woman labelled the events as unacceptable. 

“Again! This is unacceptable and I hope the driver will be caught. Hope the police pulls through,” she commented.

A man argued that, “One way in which to fight crime is to increase the sentence for killing or seriously injuring a police officer in the line of duty. 

“Right now, our police officers have no protection whatsoever, just their bravery. That has to end. Laws must be enacted to protect them against those who would hurt them,” he suggested.

Meanwhile, a female Facebook user advised that, “These police must remember is one life they got, and that some people don’t have respect for the law.”