SSP Russell returns to take charge of St Ann as murders rise
Published:Monday | September 29, 2025 | 12:06 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer -
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Carlos Russell is the new head of the St Ann Police Division, as murders in The Garden Parish rise above 2024 levels.
Jamaica Constabulary Force statistics for January 1 to September 20, 2025 show St Ann recording 45 murders, as against 39 for the comparative period in 2024, a 15 per cent increase. Robbery also shows an increase - 49 as against 46 the previous year. However there have been reductions in rape, down to 14 from 21; injuries, down to 17 from 28; and shooting, down to 28 from 44.
St Ann is one of three parishes, along with St Mary and Portland, that show increase in murders, as all other parishes have recorded a decrease.
Overall figures show 500 murders up to September 20, a 41 per cent drop from the 845 recorded in 2024.
On the other hand, fatal shootings by Jamaica’s security forces have climbed to 230, up to last Thursday, with 20 people being shot and killed by the police during September alone, up to the 25th of the month.
However, as the police step up the fight against criminal elements in St Ann, on Friday they made a significant breakthrough with the seizure of a submachine gun and several rounds of ammunition.
The gun, a Kel-tec submachine, fitted with a magazine containing 16 9mm rounds, was found during a search at premises in Greenwich Acres in Mammee Bay. One Glock magazine with 12 9mm rounds, and 11 5.56 rounds, were also seized.
Two persons were held in connection with the find.
In another operation in Bamboo in the parish, six persons were held, including a person of interest in an ongoing murder investigation.