Police conduct and school stickers

THE EDITOR, Sir:

ARE MARKED police vehicles the property of the individual police officers to whom they are assigned? There are so many things going so wrong in Jamaica at this time, it may seem ridiculous to worry about this particular issue, but I believe it to be important.

This morning I saw a police motorcycle with a FORTIS sticker prominently displayed on its windscreen. Are police vehicles sponsored by educational institutions? Will this police officer show favouritism toward a student of the related institution? Will he show disregard for persons who do not belong to that institution?

As a past student of a rival institution, I immediately formed a negative opinion of that particular police officer without having met or dealt with him ­ something I have never done before. These and many other types of stickers are seen on private vehicles throughout the country. Our Constitution allows freedom of expression therefore I have no quarrel with a person adorning his private property however he likes.

Are we to expect police vehicles to display those stickers as well? Is this another symptom of the decline in discipline throughout our protective forces? What is the official stand on personalising taxpayers' property? I'd really love to know.

I am etc.,

ROLAND GAYLE

PO Box 377

Kingston 10

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