‘It is hard not to see impunity at work' - Church alliance condemns Granville police killing
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The Watchman Church Leaders Alliance (WCLA) has condemned the fatal police shooting of Latoya Bulgin in Granville, St James, warning that the incident reflects "frightening" impunity.
In a strongly worded statement issued Monday, the alliance expressed “profound grief, righteous indignation, and deep concern” over the killing, which was captured on video.
“It is hard not to see impunity at work, and this is frightening,” the WCLA said, while noting the interim administrative action reportedly taken by the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).
However, the church group said greater clarity was needed regarding what that action actually entails.
The alliance said the fatal shooting was part of a deeply troubling national trend, pointing to recent data from the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), which reportedly shows that 130 people were killed by security forces so far in 2026.
According to the WCLA, those figures have already surpassed the numbers recorded during the same period last year.
The group also raised alarm over what it described as the chronic non-use and poor deployment of body-worn cameras by members of the security forces during operations and confrontations.
“This lack of objective video evidence directly erodes the fragile trust between communities and law enforcement,” the alliance stated.
“A society cannot achieve genuine peace when citizens feel that those sworn to protect them operate away from public transparency.”
The WCLA argued that the Granville incident highlights a worsening trajectory in the use of lethal force and insisted that standard procedural responses were no longer enough.
“True governance demands more than standard procedural reactions; it requires a commitment to truth and dignity,” the statement said.
“We cannot speak of building strong families, mentoring youth, or transforming communities when state violence continues to claim lives under a shroud of missing or unactivated body cameras.”
The alliance called for the implementation timeline for more widespread use of body-worn cameras to be fast-tracked and urged the Cabinet to address the issue directly under the principle of collective responsibility.
It also called for what it described as a “comprehensive moral and tactical review” of police rules of engagement and community policing protocols to ensure law enforcement strategies remain aligned with the protection of life and constitutional rights.
The WCLA welcomed the ongoing INDECOM investigation into the fatal shooting and urged investigators to complete the probe swiftly.
The church alliance also extended condolences to Bulgin’s family and residents of Granville, many of whom have been left traumatised by the incident.
“We stand ready to support community healing while resolutely advocating for institutional governance, national righteousness, and systemic accountability,” the statement concluded.
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