The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune News Editor

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

POLICE Commissioner Clayton Fernander gave a confusing response  when questioned about his failure to reveal or act on the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions’ recommendations concerning several police-involved killing cases that had adverse findings in the Coroner’s Court. 

Jurors in Coroner’s Court inquests determined that the killings of Shanton Forbes, Deangelo Evans, and Dino Bain in separate incidents were homicides by manslaughter. Since inquests do not determine criminal liability, the adverse findings prompted the DPP’s office to examine whether any officer should be charged with a crime.

Acting DPP Cordell Fraizer sent her recommendations to the commissioner in early April, but the commissioner has not disclosed her instructions.

By convention, the police always follow the directions of the DPP’s office.

When asked if he was protecting the officers involved, Commissioner Fernander said during a press conference yesterday: “I’m not protecting no officers. My legal department is viewing those matters, and based on the information that I’m getting from them, those matters will be forwarded to the Coroner’s Court. So they are looking at those matters being for preliminary inquiry into those matters, so that my legal team is on top of that, and is being done as we speak.”

In fact, the cases have long been concluded at the Coroner’s Court. Commissioner Fernander and press liaison Chief Superintendent Chrislyn Skippings did not respond to questions seeking clarity on his comments before press time yesterday.

The commissioner’s comments come as the police force faces scepticism about its willingness to aggressively investigate officers accused of wrongdoing after voice notes purporting to capture a quid-pro-quo arrangement involving a senior police officer and a murdered gang leader surfaced earlier this month.

Evans was killed on Sandy Lane in Mason’s Addition on May 27, 2018.

Three officers shot Forbes in Yellow Elder on March 15, 2019.