Cop killings may be referred to the DPP

THE SHOOTING deaths of two people by police, one in Valencia the other in Toco, are likely to be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson, Acting Commissioner of Police Everald Snaggs said yesterday. Snaggs also said that the reports on the shooting deaths of Glenroy Elder and St Ann’s outpatient Gideon Edwards were to be submitted yesterday to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Oswyn Allard. However, up to late evening, only the shooting death file on Elder, 42, of L’Anse Noire, had been forwarded to Allard from the investigator, Supt Stephen Quashie, formerly of the Northern Division. Quashie was due to take over from Western Division head Sr Supt Selwyn Glasgow, who was supposed to proceed on pre-retirement leave ysterday. Quashie will act as Sr Supt of the Western Division and has been replaced by acting Supt Haroun Ramkissoon, formerly of the Traffic Branch.

Investigators who are working on the  police shooting death of Edwards said they were still conducting investigations, collecting statements and doing field work.  ASP Errol Dillon, who is in charge of crime in the Northern Division is lead investigator. Elder was shot and killed May 14 after police said he attacked them.  The shooting incident sparked protests by villagers which caused the Commissioner of Police to send an independent investigator. Edwards, meanwhile, was shot in the hip on Sunday on Kangalee Street, Valencia, where he allegedly attacked a party of officers including a female. Officers of the Eastern Division had received a report that Edwards was threatening people with a knife and cutlass on the street.