JAMAICA | POLICE BRUTALITY ROCKS MAY PEN: Opposition Demands Justice After Elderly Man Beaten

KINGSTON, Jamaica, April 26, 2025 — The brutal beating of an elderly man by a police officer in May Pen has ignited a firestorm of criticism, with Opposition Spokesperson Patricia Duncan Sutherland declaring that "there is no justice in brutality" and demanding immediate accountability from law enforcement leadership.

The shocking incident, captured on video and widely circulated online, shows a police officer violently assaulting an elderly gentleman in Clarendon, in what Duncan Sutherland called a clear violation of "the principles of justice, humanity, and professional policing."

"While we must uphold law and order, there is absolutely no justification for the level of force we witnessed," Duncan Sutherland stated, her voice sharp with indignation. The assault has reopened wounds in a community where trust in law enforcement already hangs by a thread.

The Opposition Spokesperson drew a stark contrast between current policing methods and more successful approaches of the past. "In 2015, when Jamaica recorded its lowest murder rate in three decades, it was directly influenced by strong community policing and greater trust between people and police," she noted. "What we saw in May Pen painfully reminds us of what happens when that bond of trust is shattered beyond recognition."

Duncan Sutherland's critique extends beyond the individual officer to the highest levels of security leadership. She pointedly called out both the Commissioner of Police and the Minister of National Security for setting a tone that "paints citizens as adversaries rather than partners" in community safety efforts.

The opposition is demanding a full investigation by INDECOM, Jamaica's independent commission that oversees police conduct. "Accountability must be swift and certain where breaches occur," Duncan Sutherland insisted, adding that Jamaica's vulnerable populations—particularly the elderly and youth—deserve protection, not persecution.

"Our officers must be equipped not only with the tools to enforce the law but with the mindset to serve with dignity and restraint," she emphasized. Her statement highlighted the need for enhanced human rights training and de-escalation strategies throughout the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

As communities across the island grapple with questions of policing and justice, Duncan Sutherland's message was unequivocal: "Social protection and transformation cannot be achieved in a climate where vulnerable citizens are subjected to violent assault by those sworn to serve and protect."

The opposition has pledged to advance a model of public safety built on "partnership, respect, and shared responsibility" between the state and its citizens—a stark alternative to the heavy-handed approach on display in May Pen.

"Justice must be more than a slogan," Duncan Sutherland concluded with quiet force. "It must be seen, felt, and experienced by those who are most in need of protection."

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