Shelly-Ann Thompson, Freelance Writer

Several incidents in which persons fired shots to celebrate the New Year, including one involving two policemen and another which led to the death of an individual, have been placed under investigation by the police.

Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas yesterday ordered a special investigation into the circumstances under which two lawmen discharged their firearms at a dance in St. Catherine early New Year's Day, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Denver Frater.

Mr. Frater, the assistant commissioner in charge of crime, said that although the policemen have not been arrested, investigations are being conducted.

"I am not able to speak definitely about the status of the investigations, but investigations are progressing," ACP Frater said.

Two constables attached to the Spanish Town Police Station were reportedly among patrons at the Camp Fire stage show held Sunday night when they allegedly discharged their firearms in the air to celebrate the beginning of 2007. Their firearms have since been seized.

In other reports, a man in Rema, St. Andrew, was allegedly killed and five other persons accidentally shot and injured in separate incidents throughout Jamaica shortly after the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve.

Conducting interviews

"We are progressing very well, conducting interviews with a view to getting persons," ACP Frater said. "We are still unable to get the kind of information that can take us to the point of making proper charges or arrests. But based on dialogue, we are hoping that in the near future, we will be able to make a breakthrough."

The discharge of a firearm without due cause, even by a licensed firearm holder, is a very serious breach of the law. However, it is often the norm for persons to fire a 'gun salute' at dances, funerals (especially those of renown area leaders), and at New Year's events.

"We have sent persons to prison for this form of offence and in all cases, their firearm is revoked," ACP Frater said.

Meanwhile, ACP Granville Gause, head of the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI), said that this act occurs quite frequently.

"Sadly, one of the main culprits of this act is police personnel. I can tell you this as we at BSI investigate these incidents on a regular basis," said ACP Gause.

While the country may still be in the celebratory mood of the New Year season, the Jamaica Constabulary Force says it will be on the lookout for persons illegally discharging their firearms.

"Our vigilance has now been increased around any activity that has the potential for 'gun salutes', with a view of arresting perpetrators," said ACP Frater.

The ACP is however pleading with the persons who are witnesses of this illegal act to report it to the police.

"The difficulty we are having is to get witnesses to come forward. What we need is to find perpetrators, arrest them and put them before the court," he said.

Witnesses may report 'gun saluting' to Crime Stop at 311, Operation Kingfish at 811 or to 119.