The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has confirmed that none of the 23 police officers involved in the September 15 raid that resulted in the death of 22-year-old Jahmar Farquharson wore body cameras.
Following his death, his family released footage from inside the house which shows Farquharson opening his door and raising his arms in apparent surrender to police officers. The footage has since gone viral on social media and sparked outrage across the nation.
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Deputy Commissioner Hamish Campbell also revealed that Farquharson was not named on the search warrant executed during the operation at a Cherry Tree Lane residence in Four Paths. “It’s definitely a different name. It’s not Jahmar Farquharson on the warrant,” Campbell said, noting that investigators are exploring whether the person listed is connected to the property.
According to the police account, Farquharson answered the door, allowed officers inside, and was escorted back to his bedroom after the house was cleared. Officers allege he reached for a .38 revolver hidden among clothing, prompting two officers to fire two rounds each, fatally wounding him.
Campbell stressed the importance of body-worn cameras, noting that they would have reinforced police reports and protected both officers and civilians, particularly in controversial cases. He confirmed that INDECOM has secured CCTV footage from the incident and is conducting a thorough analysis, but declined to comment on what it shows due to circulating unverified clips on social media.
The absence of body cameras has long been a point of contention between INDECOM and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). The police have defended their gradual deployment, citing infrastructure and training requirements, while National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang previously questioned their effectiveness in hostile confrontations.
The incident has sparked public outrage amid record declines in murders nationwide this year. Yet INDECOM reports a 73% increase in fatal shootings by security forces, with 225 deaths recorded since January 1, many stemming from planned operations.
Farquharson, a former student of Denbigh High and Vere Technical High Schools, was employed by the National Water Commission and had entrepreneurial pursuits in catering, beekeeping, and welding. INDECOM is expected to release a formal report by the end of September.
