Constable Mark Russell wanted for the fatal shooting of Ravain Thompson. 

 

Nine alleged murderers are among 21 policemen wanted for various criminal offences, who are on the run.

Warrants for the arrest of the fugitives are ready for execution, following intensive investigation by the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI), the police unit, which was established nine years ago to investigate all fatal and non-fatal police shootings and allegations of police corruption.

We believe most of them have fled the country; one was recently held in New York and we are in the process of initiating extradition proceedings to bring him to justice, head of the BSI, Assistant Commissioner Granville Gause, told the Sunday Herald. 

The investigations, ACP Gause said, covered fatal and non-fatal shootings of civilians by policemen, along with cases of corruption between 1999 and 2007.

The nine alleged murderers include Constable Robert Oriley Coley, wanted on two counts of murder, two counts of illegal possession of firearm, and two counts of wounding with intent.  

Constable Coley, who was stationed at the Old Harbour Police Station, is wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of Omar Campbell and Clifton Knight on June 18, 2000, at Robin Red Breast Way, Phase I Seaview Gardens.

Hunts Bay
 Constable Walter Spike, who was stationed at the Hunts Bay Police Station, is wanted for the fatal shooting of Rene Lyons in July 2003, in Majestic Gardens, St. Andrew.

District Constable Clement Rose Green is wanted for the fatal shooting of Everton Stewart in March 2003, in Cambridge, St James. Constable Winston Graham, who was stationed at Half-Way Tree Police Station, has been on the run since he was implicated in the fatal shooting of Kemar Bryan at Twin Gates Plaza, Constant Spring Road, St. Andrew, in September 2001.

Also wanted by the law is Constable Mark Russell, for the fatal shooting of Ravain Thompson along Alexander Road in Kingston in July 2007. Constable Russell was stationed at the Hunts Bay Police Station. A colleague of Russell, Mark Lee, is also wanted for murder in connection with the same incident. 

Also on the run is Constable Lloyd Campbell of the Motorised Patrol team in St. James, for the fatal shooting of George McFarlane in December 2002.  

The incident occurred at Great River in the parish.
 Sergeant Derrick Bailey, who was also stationed at the Hunts Bay Police Station, is the highest-ranking force member on the run. He is wanted for the fatal shooting of Richard Williams in December 2002. The offence was allegedly committed along Spanish Town Road.

Another Hunts Bay cop, Constable Fidel Fletcher, is wanted for the fatal shooting of Kenneth Smith of Bell Rock in St. Andrew. 

Eleven of the other 12 fugitives are facing unlawful wounding, wounding with intent or assault occasioning grievous bodily harm charges, arising from shooting incidents in which civilians were injured. Two members are wanted on corruption charges. 

Since its inception in July 1999, the BSI has investigated 3,551 reports, ranging from murder to cases where policemen allegedly fired their weapons indiscriminately. The BSI investigators have completed 2,165 of these reports. 

Based on BSI data, 1,761 completed files were sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions and 384 to the Commissioner of Police. The DPP has ruled on 1,521 of these cases, resulting in 185 criminal prosecutions for murder and other gun-related charges. Some 116 of those charged were acquitted, 12 were convicted and 57 cases are still pending. 

The data showed that an average of 20.5 policemen have been charged annually as a result of BSI investigations. In 2004, a total of 50 cops were charged, the highest number since the unit was formed.