Omar Anderson, Gleaner WriterIN A bid to curb the escalating crime wave in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, Police Commissioner Francis Forbes on Thursday transferred Assistant Commis-sioner of Police (ACP) Arthur 'Stitch' Martin to head the police's Area Five.
He replaces ACP George Williams, who has been sent back to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) on East Queen Street, downtown Kingston.
His transfer came just days after the police information arm, the Constabulary Communi-cation Network (CCN), reported that 17 murders were committed in the heart of the Old Capital.
A little more than a month ago, violence flared in the town following the murder of Oliver 'Bubba' Smith off Whitehall Avenue, Kingston 8. He was the reputed leader of the notorious 'One Order' gang.
ANALYSIS
Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, ACP Martin, who currently heads the Mobile Reserve, said when he takes up duties on Monday, one of his first tasks would be to conduct an immediate analysis of the crime problem in the town. This, he said, could be instrumental in determining the strategies he would be using to tackle the situation.
EVALUATION
"I know everything that is happening there, but I have to do an evaluation first in order to get the prescription going," he said.
"We have to look at the strategies being employed now and see what needs to be done to control the situation and move along."
His transfer to Area Five comes days after Senior Superintendent (SSP) Clifford Blake, commanding officer of the Spanish Town Police Station, was transferred and replaced by Superintendent Wrenford Robinson.
He is to report to SSP Hector 'Bingi' White from Area Five. The SSP will be temporarily in charge of all operations in Spanish Town.
Meanwhile, SSP Lola Evans, who is currently at Mobile Reserve, is to become Acting ACP of that police auxiliary. ACP Martin confirmed yesterday that additional police personnel from Mobile Reserve are to be deployed to the troubled Spanish Town area to prop up security there.
