Hanover police ready to take down the ‘gangster monsters’
by Bryan Miller/Gleaner Writer · The GleanerWestern Bureau:
Superintendent Andrew Nish, the police commander for Hanover, is calling for the residents of the Burnt Ground community, which has been plagued by bouts of violence in recent weeks, to support law enforcement in their bid to rid the community of a group of troublemakers called the ‘gangster monsters’.
Following a recent flare-up of violence, which saw two residents suffering machete wounds and another being arrested and charged for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, the community was hit with a 48-hour curfew that was aimed at calming the residents and going after the troublemakers.
“We do not want to have a continuation of these incidents,” Nish told residents during a community meeting on Monday. “As we seek to find justice, as we seek to ensure that we do not have a greater spread of violence, as we seek to uplift communities, this is the stance that we want to take in stopping the violence.”
According to the residents, the ‘gangster monsters’, who have been wreaking havoc in the community, are outsiders who have relatives with ties to the community. They said they invited Nish to come and speak to them because they would prefer the police to deal with the matter rather than them taking justice into their own hands.
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During the meeting, police personnel attached to the Ramble Police Station, which is in proximity to Burnt Ground, were taken to task by the residents, who accused them of being unprofessional in their attitude to protecting their community. They also complained about irregular patrols; and failure to respond when called upon for assistance.
MOVING SWIFT TO ERADICATE CRIME
“I will say this, in everything that we do, there is a process, but when it comes on to corruption, we in the Jamaica Constabulary Force will move swiftly to eradicate it,” said Nish, who explained that the Ramble Police Station is being manned by just over 20 law enforcement personnel, who are tasked with covering 36 districts.
Nish went on to praise the law-abiding citizens, saying that had they not been rejecting lawlessness, issues such as the problems caused by the ‘gangster monsters’ could have escalated into serious violence.
“If the communities and their members with good moral principles did not stand up for what is right, then there would be some serious incidents in this area,” said Nish. “Crime and violence affects everyone, it affects the quality of life, it affects students going to school and businesses, so whatever we have do as the High Command in the Hanover Police Division, we will see to the safety and security of all.”
With crime currently trending down in Hanover, based on the latest serious crime statistics, Nish promised the residents that he would do everything possible to ensure that downward trajectory continues.
“We cannot allow the crime statistics to go back to where it was,” said Nish, who urged the residents to cooperate with the police by telling what they know about criminal activities.