RECENTLY, MY wife and I saw scores of morbidly curious people crossing four lanes of fast-moving traffic because they were attracted by a yellow police crime scene tape in the Harbour View shopping centre in St Andrew. Then, a few days later, we came upon another yellow crime scene tape at Faith's Pen in St Ann. The chronological proximity of the sightings was very unnerving.

Crime scene tapes are used by the police to cordon off, 'sterilise' and control fresh scenes of major traffic accidents and crimes such as suicides or homicides that are being processed. Whenever I see that yellow tape, I am filled with sadness and despair because it most likely represents yet another murder and bourgeoning anarchy.

To murderers, that yellow tape frames their evil handiwork for all to see. To the friends and family of the victim(s) it highlights the saddest and most horrific day of their lives. To many people, that police yellow tape advertises an opportunity for them to quench their lust for viewing the macabre - to gaze in sick wonderment at death and possibly mutilation. To the beleaguered police it's probably another cruel, unnecessary, murderous act committed by cowardly gunmen who will most likely never come to justice because fear, corruption and distrust keep witnesses away.

Why?

I consulted a 27-year veteran detective sergeant of police. He and the rest of the team cover the entire island and consistently work well over 40 hours each week persevering in order to complete the crime-scene phase of their investigations and conduct numerous follow-up procedures. Whenever he approaches a yellow crime scene police tape, he feels somewhat numb as he ponders why the victim was killed. Inner-city killings are often over drugs, guns, spoils of ill-got gains, retaliation, intimidation, turf acquisitions, gang warfare or even if someone disrespected someone else. Robbery and contract killings occur in more affluent areas.

The police are fed up and tired of the interminable murders. When the detective sergeant gets up in the mornings, he wonders how many people will be killed that day. The police investigate four to five killings on an average day. Our police feel overwhelmed because they cannot see an end to the slaughter and they fear that things will get worse. The detective sergeant sited the circumstances of a certain well-known inner-city area that already experienced 17 murders since the start of this year —there have been no arrests (and, therefore, no convictions) because the witnesses all live in fear. Although they know who is committing the murders, they will not go to court. People say that, generally, they don't trust the police or a justice system that cannot protect them, yet exposes them to danger by having them attend court far too often.

The police don't expect the killings to stop until the guns are taken off the streets, because without their weapons gunmen are weak and afraid. The sergeant lamented that crime scenes are often strewn with many shiny, new shell casings indicative of the frequent and bountiful supply of ammunition to killers by persons unknown. Yet, the police are only allowed to carry a limited number of bullets that appear dull and old, indicative of our financial constraints.

Stressed

The police are committed to seeing their job through to the bitter end, but feel stressed because they are constantly pressured (by everyone) to make arrests even though witnesses won't come forward or abscond when cases are drawn out in the courts.

We have a lot of work to do if we want to see less of those yellow crime scene tapes.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. He may be contacted at garthrattray@gmail.com or columns @ gleanerjm.com