Jamaica’s Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom) has announced the appointment of Yanique Taylor Wellington as its new deputy commissioner, filling the vacancy created by the departure of Assistant Commissioner Hamish Campbell who held the operational leadership role from 2013 through December 2025.
Taylor Wellington assumes comprehensive operational responsibilities previously managed by Campbell, bringing substantial institutional expertise to the position. Her distinguished tenure at Indecom includes serving as Director of Complaints since January 2022 and previously as Senior Legal Officer. The legally-trained professional represented the commission during the critical West Kingston Commission of Enquiry in 2015 and notably argued before the UK Privy Council in the landmark Dane Lewin vs Albert Diah case, which resulted in a pivotal ruling affirming Indecom’s authority and reinforcing police accountability mechanisms. Prior to joining Indecom, she served as a senior prosecutor at Jamaica’s Integrity Commission.
In her initial statements as deputy commissioner, Taylor Wellington highlighted alarming trends in police-related fatalities, revealing a 65% year-over-year increase in fatal security force shootings during 2025, with 311 individuals killed compared to the previous year. Particularly disturbing is the 300% surge in fatalities recorded in the first five days of 2026, with 12 persons shot dead by security forces compared to three during the same period in 2025.
Taylor Wellington emphasized Indecom’s commitment to “independently, impartially, and promptly investigate all incidents involving security force shootings.” She assured citizens that recent fatal encounters would undergo thorough and objective examination, with appropriate actions taken should legal violations be identified.
Notably, Indecom’s investigations into these incidents revealed concerning procedural gaps. While eight firearms were recovered across six recent shooting incidents, no body-worn cameras were activated by involved officers during any of these encounters. One Jamaica Constabulary Force member reportedly possessed equipment but claimed inability to activate it due to missing mounting accessories.
All officers involved have been formally served with Section 21 Notices under the Independent Commission of Investigations Act (2010), requiring them to submit detailed statements and attend investigatory interviews.