Police officer recovering after ‘friendly fire’ shooting

COP Williams also used the opportunity to call on the public to assist the police in ridding the streets of illegal firearms.

Over the years, there have been incidents where police officers have been shot in the line of duty by other police officers. In one incident, a police officer stationed at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Kingstown was shot in the abdomen while on duty at the CID office. It was later said that a firearm that was being cleaned, accidentally discharged. That officer recovered.

On August 7, 2010, PC 494 Kingsley John,27, was shot at the Biabou Police Station and later died. Later that month, Special Services Unit (SSU) Police Constable, Rohan McDowall was charged with murder in relation to the incident. He was also charged with the use of a firearm with intent to commit an offence, and unlawfully discharging a firearm at John. John, of Dickson, was killed with an M4 assault rifle shortly after he and other members of his unit had returned from a drug raid. McDowall later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter and was released from prison after spending two years on remand.

In another incident, on Monday, March 25, 2013, then CID police officers, Sergeant 151 Julius Morgan; police constable (PC) 335 Orlando Collins; and PC 45 Adrian Forde, appeared at the Serious Offences Court charged in relation to the shooting of Corporal 351 Milford Edwards, a member of the Narcotics Unit (Drug Squad) on December 5, 2012. Reports are that the men had received an anonymous tip that a drug operation was being carried out on the beach at Rose Place/ Bottom Town.

PC Forde who was charged with conspiracy to defeat the course of justice, was later discharged. Sergeant Morgan and PC Forde were also later discharged, having been charged with unlawful and malicious wounding; unlawful discharging of a firearm; excessive use of force; acting in a manner so rash or so negligent as to be likely to cause harm to a person; and conspiracy to defeat the course of justice.