Director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), David West, says there are currently 170 open investigations into police-involved shootings.
Speaking on Talk City 91.1 FM’s The Flagship Programme on Monday, Mr. West assured that the Authority will continue to independently and thoroughly investigate police-involved shootings.
“In 2024, there were 37 incidents with 54 victims. And last year, there were 55 incidents with 68 victims. Right now, they have four victims, as we know, right now, since last week. So we have been doing all this. We have to investigate all of these matters. And an investigation is not as simple as people think, because we do a thorough, independent investigation.”
Mr. West said special attention is placed on cases where there are reports of an exchange of gunfire.
“Because we will then look at the autopsy report, post-mortem report, and we can determine whether the angle of the bullet, where it came in. If the post-mortem report matches the victim, okay, to see whether what the police said, we know he may have been shot in the back, the police may have said when he was facing forward, so therefore that tells us that something’s untoward. We also look at whether there was gunshot residue. Whenever there’s a police-involved shooting, and the person is supposed to have a firearm, you’re looking for gunshot residue.”
Mr. West noted that after the investigation is completed, the choice lies in the hands of the Commissioner of Police.
“We then look at all the evidence and make a recommendation to the Commissioner of Police that he has breached the section in the rules, in the Police Service Regulations, 150. And we can say, well, based on that he should be suspended or whatever. But at the end of the day, it’s up to the Commissioner of Police.”
The PCA Director expressed his support for the use of body cameras. In the interim, he is reminding the public that it is not an offence to use their cellphones to record police engagements and all matters which involve breaches of the law.
“Now we have had complaints where persons have been filming police officers, and they have confiscated their phone or mash up the phone. That’s an offence. That is wrong.”