Shields
Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
In an uncharacteristic move to build public trust, newly-appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mark Shields, has extended an invitation to members of the public with information on criminal activities, to call him.
"They can call me at 882-5190. People must be rewarded for information," said the lanky British officer, who is here on secondment with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) from Scotland Yard.
With more than three decades of policing under his belt, DCP Sheilds says he knows the importance of building ties with police and the citizenry. Yesterday, he was observed walking throughout the troubled east Kingston community of McIntyre Land, meeting and talking with the residents.
This is the community where he got his 'baptism of fire' a week ago when heavily-armed gunmen forced him and other senior officers to run for cover, as criminals fired from a rifle, reportedly equipped with silencer.
"After last week's incident, I am here today to look at the officers on the ground and talk with the people," said DCP Shields. Many who spoke with Shields welcomed him. He stressed that they must be part of a partnership that ensures criminals leave their community and never return.
He referred to a move by the JCF to flood war-torn communities alongside Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) soldiers as a stopgap measure, noting that building trust is far more important. He also addressed the resource problem in the JCF.
ESCORTED THROUGH COMMUNITY
Shields, who first came to Jamaica in 2002 to assist with the controversial killing of four persons by members of the disbanded Crime Management Unit (CMU) in Kraal, Clarendon, was escorted through the community by Superintendent Doric Sinclair, commanding officer for Kingston East, and Acting Assistant Commissioner, Owen Ellington.
The streets were lined with soldiers, some of whom were on roofs of high-rise apartment buildings. Some of these streets were deserted last week when gunmen opened fire on Bryden Street, killing six persons, including four women.
Yesterday, there was a sense of normalcy with women and children sitting outdoors and men playing dominoes on the sidewalks.
"Some of residents told me that they are now able to sleep peacefully, without being awakened by gunshots," said Shields.
