A stark contrast in Jamaica’s law enforcement outcomes emerged as the nation entered 2026, with human rights advocates acknowledging historic crime reduction while raising urgent concerns about police-related fatalities. The January 1st security operations resulted in seven fatalities, including four-year-old Romain Bowman of St. James and Delano Leslie, a wanted individual from Westmoreland known as ‘Crazy’ who had been featured on the police force’s Wanted Wednesdays initiative.
Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) Executive Director Mickel Jackson characterized the situation as ‘untenable’ despite welcoming the police performance in reducing murders through various initiatives. Official data revealed that 2025 recorded 666 murders between January 1 and December 27, representing a dramatic 41% reduction (487 fewer deaths) compared to the corresponding period in 2024.
However, this achievement was severely undermined by a concurrent 65% surge in police-involved fatalities, with 311 recorded deaths marking the highest number since the 2010 Tivoli Gardens incursion. Jackson emphasized that this alarming trend demands immediate scrutiny, noting that conflicting accounts between law enforcement and citizens frequently emerge in these cases, raising fundamental questions about transparency, proportionality, and accountability.
The organization cited several concerning incidents, including the September 2025 killing of 22-year-old Jahmar Farquharson in Clarendon and the March 2024 shooting of 27-year-old Romario Sterling in St. Catherine. In both cases, CCTV footage allegedly showed the individuals in postures of compliance moments before being fatally shot. Another incident on Windward Road in Kingston resulted in murder charges against officers accused of planting evidence.
JFJ reiterated its call for accelerated implementation of body-worn cameras, referencing Police Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake’s September 2025 announcement that procurement was nearing completion. Jackson pressed for clarity on the status of additional cameras approved by Cabinet and questioned why procurement issues continued to hinder implementation given the existing storage and IT infrastructure.
Hugh Faulkner, commissioner of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), cautioned against premature speculation while acknowledging the regrettable nature of the fatalities. He emphasized INDECOM’s mandate to thoroughly investigate all incidents and produce comprehensive reports, noting that establishing trends required more than single-day data analysis despite the concerning numbers.