Assistant Commissioner of Police Trevor ‘Buju’ Bailey, a key figure in crime prevention, emphasized the importance of exercising heightened care when dealing with individuals suffering from mental illness. His testimony came during the trial of Christopher ‘Too Cool Chris’ Jones, a prominent DJ and radio personality, who is facing charges of wounding in connection with the shooting of Kevin Patterson in Kingstown on July 4, 2024. Jones claims he acted in self-defense, alleging that Patterson was reaching for a weapon in his bag, which was later found to contain a knife and a box cutter. However, the prosecution argues that Jones’ actions were malicious and did not constitute self-defense. Bailey, summoned by the defense, shared insights into police protocols when interacting with mentally ill individuals. He noted that police recruits are trained by the Ministry of Health on how to handle such situations, and workshops are regularly conducted for frontline officers. Bailey stressed the need for calm communication and assured assistance when dealing with mentally ill persons, acknowledging that reasoning may not always be possible due to incoherence. He also discussed the use of licensed firearms, stating that their primary purpose is protection and crime prevention, and that any use of a firearm in such situations would be subject to investigation. The trial, presided over by Senior Magistrate Tammika McKenzie, is set for a verdict on December 10, with the possibility of an earlier decision.
In Too Cool’s trial, Bailey says ‘more care’ needed when dealing with mentally ill people
