I WANT to thank you for publishing the article written by Mr Harold Malcolm inviting the commissioner to take charge of the police force.

I am a 54-year-old Jamaican who migrated to Canada when I was 21. My worst memories of violence were from two occasions when I saw police kill two men at point-blank range. The news reported that these men were criminals who had attacked the police and were shot in self-defence. The reports were lies.

first occasion

The first occasion was when I was about 10 years old travelling by minibus from Mandeville to Kingston. We reached a train line before Old Harbour, I think, and stopped to look at the scene unfolding in a field close by. Some policemen had cornered a man who had clearly given up the run.

The man raised his hands in the air, seemingly begging for mercy. A policeman then raised his gun from his side and shot and killed the man - right in front of all of us. I think it was the following day I read in the Star and heard on the radio how this man had attacked the police and was killed in a shoot-out.

The other time, I was about 19, working at Orane Doors. A commotion developed next door. We all went out to look. Again, a man had been cornered by the police, and one of them pointed his gun and killed him - just like that.

big problems

My question, how can they get away with this? Even in front of so many witnesses? Sure, they might have been criminals, but who is the bigger criminal here?

Our country has big problems that cannot be solved. Do you really think we're capable of changing? We have been corrupt, from top to bottom, for several generations, and memories like these are truly scarring.

I am, etc.,

Douglas Ashdan

ashdan.doug@gmail.com

Canada