Fabian Ledgister, Staff Reporter

Police are warning the public to be on the alert for persons impersonating police officers.

The police have issued the warning after a recent mail van robbery, where robbers dressed as cops in blue denim stopped the vehicle.

According to the Constabulary Communications Network, on November 22, about 8:30 a.m., a mail delivery van was travelling along Balmoral avenue, when two men dressed in full blue denim, and posing as police officers, signalled the van to stop. Upon stopping the van, two other men dressed in plain clothes alighted from a parked white Toyota Corolla, and pulled handguns, ordering the complainant to exit the van. The men escaped in both vehicles.

No stop for blue

The STAR contacted the investigating officer in the matter, Constable Gosford Daley of the Half-Way Tree CIB, who confirmed that the men who committed the robberies were dressed like police officers.

"This is a serious matter and the public needs to know certain things...by right, unless there is some major operation, police in blue denim should not be stopping persons, they should have a red seam, and they must always have on head gear (red seam cap)," said Con. Daley.

"Details are still sketchy, but investigations are ongoing. Persons who might have seen anything that can assist, are to call the Half-Way Tree CIB at 926-2551," he added.

Tailor-made error

A tailor, who spoke to The STAR on condition of anonymity, admitted that he has made outfits out of full denim, that bears striking resemblance in colour and material, to the police blue denim uniform. He now fears that he may have in error, made fake police uniforms.

"A man asked me to make them for a welding business he had. The material was thick and dark blue like police uniform, but mi neva did a chek dem way deh," said the tailor, who operates in the downtown area.

Reports from the Denham Town police in October this year, also revealed that criminal entities had been spotted in army fatigue, closely resembling the uniform of local military personnel.

The STAR uncovered that a Force Order, dated March 23, 2006, spoke to the importance of an officer to have his identification card in a visible area, for the protection of the officer, and the public from 'fake officers.'

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Baldwin Burey, agreed that the identification cards of the officers is a mandate that is being re-enforced within their ranks.

"I don't know how you got that information, but yes, any member of the public approached by a person presenting themselves as a police officer, has a right to demand identification. If you are suspicious, dial 119," said ACP Burey.

Although reserving details into the matter, ACP Burey confirmed that the matter was being addressed, and that improvements to the uniform code were "in the pipeline."

New uniform

"The new order will be seeking to address the matter of police uniforms, in light of these incidents. I cannot give details, as the Ministry of National Security is mostly handling it, but it is a serious matter, and a new uniform code is in the pipeline," he said.

Until these changes are in place, ACP Burey warns the public to be on the alert for criminals purporting as police officers.

"People presenting themselves as officers in uniforms could very well be a deception, so the public should be vigilant and observant. They must have a serial number over the right breast plate, identification card, and if wearing a protective vest to cover this, the vest should have an identifying number on the front and back. If you see anything outside this, be wary, because we are all in this together (police and citizens) to rid Jamaica of criminals," said ACP Burey.