Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

The Police Federation is now conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the seizure of late Constable Fidel Beckford's firearm by the police authorities.

Colleagues of Constable Beckford, who was stationed at the Hunts Bay Police Station, have expressed concern at the way in which his firearm was taken from him, and believe that it left him vulnerable to criminal elements.

Constable Beckford was shot eight times in the community of Toll Gate, Clarendon, last Sunday afternoon by a group of gunmen travelling in a Nissan Sunny motor car. At the time of his death, the policeman was under investigation for 'irregularities'.

It is reported that the commanding officer for the Hunts Bay police recently seized his service revolver and his personal firearm licence was suspended by the Clarendon police.

series of meetings

After a series of meetings between officers at the Hunt's Bay Police Station and the executive of the Police Federation, general secretary of the body, Corporal Hartley Stewart, told The Gleaner he would be looking at the policy surrounding the seizure of service pistols assigned to police personnel.

"The other concern is also whether the correct decision was made and if the proper weight was given in the specific case of Constable Beckford," Corporal Stewart said. "His firearm was seized and we will be investigating whether the action was justified and if precautions were taken with regards to the threat level against the constable."

part of procedure

However, a senior officer from the Clarendon police said the suspension of Constable Beckford's personal firearm licence was part of the procedure when someone is under investigation.

"In any investigation where a firearm is a part of that investigation, whether it is a civilian or policeman, the firearm will be taken," the senior officer said. "People are thinking as if the police did something wrong. Transparency must prevail."

The case has also reached the commissioner level as, before his retirement, Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas appointed two investigators to probe the constable's case.

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com