THE Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), mandated to investigate actions of the police, has called for residents across the island to play a greater role in helping the organisation execute its duties.
Terrence Williams, commissioner of INDECOM, issued the appeal following an incident on Red Hills Road, Kingston, yesterday where angry residents mounted fiery roadblocks in the vicinity of Karl Samuda Way and Park Lane to protest against the fatal shooting of two men in the area.The roadblocks slowed early morning traffic on Red Hills Road to a crawl, and according to Williams, they prevented INDECOM officials from carrying out their investigations.“The action also significantly hampered investigations by INDECOM as officials had to leave the scene quickly because of the protest which followed shortly after our arrival,” Wiliams said.As a result, the organisation convened an emergency meeting during which he made the appeal for citizen cooperation. He also noted that the incident was the second of its kind in the past two months.“When you are angered by these shootings, we are there to investigate and to ensure that as much as possible, the truth comes out,’ Williams told the meeting.The two men have been identified as 29-year-old Gary Cooke and his brother, 20-year-old Sayoga Cooke, who lived in the area known as ‘Common’ which runs off Red Hills Road. Police say they were shot and killed in a shoot-out and a semi-automatic pistol recovered.Residents have, however, refuted the claim and took to the streets to vent their anger.They alleged that about 11:00 pm Monday, the brothers were travelling in the area when they were stopped by the police and questioned. They further claim that the police first fired at Sayoga and then at Gary, who had made an attempt to run.Placard-bearing residents from both communities condemned the killings and said the police personnel who carried out the acts were upset that both men had recently been acquitted of a gun charge in the High Court.“Dem kill dem in cold blood; there was no shoot-out. The police dem vex because the judge order Sayoga and Gary to walk free,” one woman with tear-filled eyes said.The Cookes lost an elder brother to a gunman’s bullets some years ago.These women congregate at the entrance of Park Lane on Red Hills Road yesterday to protest against the fatal shooting of two brothers at Karl Samuda Way in a community known as ‘Common’. (PHOTO: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)View the original article here
INDECOM calls for public’s co-operation
