THE EDITOR, Sir:
Please see below a letter sent to Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas, which is self-explanatory.
Dear Commissioner:
I WRITE to place on record my appreciation and commendation for the assistance provided to me last week by members of our security forces.
On Tuesday last, I left work at about 7:15 p.m. and drove directly home. After I parked my car in my carport and alighted, I was rushed by a lone man who pointed a gun in my face and relieved me of my handbag and briefcase, ripping the sleeve out of my jacket in the process. The entire assault could not have taken more than three minutes but I saw my life flash before my eyes.
When I had recovered sufficiently to raise an alarm, I called the police and Detective Amos and Constable Lewis from the Grants Pen Police Post arrived within five or 10 minutes. By that time the young man who had assaulted me was long gone. However, where the commendation comes in was their treatment of me.
I was understandably very distraught and the solicitousness and understanding extended by them was very reassuring. They, along with relatives and friends, stayed with me and assisted in calming me down as the realisation of how close I had come to becoming another statistic hit home. It did not end there. As it was too dark to do anything, they promised to return in the morning and search the nearby gully into which the gunman escaped to see if they could find any clues or my important files and documents.
JUMPED THE GULLY WALL
True to their word, after having been on duty all night, they turned up at 7:00 a.m. on Ash Wednesday along with Constable Clarke. They jumped over the wall to the gully and with the help of a neighbour searched for one and a half hours. When they returned, they brought with them my handbag and briefcase with all their contents except for all the cash that was in them and my mobile phone.
When I eventually went to the Grants Pen station to give my statement, Detective Pommels was equally supportive.
Since people's behaviour can be influenced by their surroundings, I don't know if the support extended me is in any way related to the impressive surroundings of the new Grants Pen station but, for all the bad name that is given to some members of the force, I felt it important to say that their treatment of me was exemplary. The officers made me feel protected, well-served and very reassured.
My heartfelt thanks and best wishes to them all.
I am, etc.,
MEGAN J.A. DEANE
Kingston 8
mjadeane@hotmail.com
