Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

After being implicated in two controversial killings, they fled Jamaica for the United States, but they could not hide from the law.

They are two former members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) who are now in custody overseas and are to be deported to Jamaica to face murder charges.

While not disclosing their names, Acting Assistant Commis-sioner Granville Gause of the Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI) said the director of public prosecutions (DPP) had directed that one of the policemen be charged in connection with the 2002 fatal shooting of Rene Lyons, a nine-year-old girl who was living in Seaview Gardens, St Andrew.

"With the help of Interpol, he was picked up. Meanwhile, the other one, who is wanted in connection with a separate incident, was traced after he applied for a Jamaican passport," the acting ACP said.

These are only two of 20 policemen who are on the run following rulings by the DPP.

"Some of them have been on the run since 2000," said a sub-officer, who is one of the 22 investigators assigned to the BSI.

In the meantime, there are now hundreds of incomplete files at the BSI against policemen under investigation.

Long wait

The files are incomplete because of the long wait for scientific certificates, which include post-mortem, ballistic and DNA reports. The police said some of these certificates are outstanding from as far back as 2000.

Human rights group Amnesty International, in its April 2008 report, said some members of the JCF resort to unlawful killings to restrain individuals they believe pose a threat to the community.

Ravin Thompson is another victim of alleged police indiscretion. He was killed in July 2007 and his mother, Angela Hutchinson, is still grieving.

"They killed my child. What did my child do to the system? My child did nothing to hurt anyone," said Hutchinson.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the Anti-Corruption Branch, Justin Felice, is reporting that the policemen linked to Thompson's death have left Jamaica.

"I can confirm that the implicated police personnel have fled the island," he said.

ACP Felice has also described the situation of policemen under probe fleeing the island as grave.

"Clearly, this is a serious concern of the public," he said, adding that the police are devoting much energy to finding those who have fled.

Reporter Mark Beckford contributed to this story