Top North American crime fighters coming

BY KARYL WALKER Observer Online news editor walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com

Saturday, April 23, 2011

THE country's fight against crime is set to be bolstered with the arrival of two top North American crime fighters next week. The cops, who are from Canada and the United States, are being sponsored by the European Union (EU) at a cost of US$300,000 and will be staying in the country for between six months to a year.

Head of EU Delegation Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni made the announcement Wednesday during a signing-over-ceremony for phase III of the Grants Of A Lower Order (GOLA) programme at the Rennock Lodge All Age School in Rockfort, East Kingston.

Later he told the Observer that the move is part of the EU's US$45-million assistance to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

"It is to help the force implement the strategic review and justice reform programmes, INDECOM, the Twickenham Park Police Academy extension and human rights training of police recruits," Mazzocchi-Alemanni said. "As of next week two international crime experts will be at the disposal of Commissioner Owen Ellington."

He said the move is aimed at further boosting the force's crime-fighting capabilities.

"It will be helping Owen Ellington and his team to further develop their anti-gang strategy which is already bearing fruit," Ambassador Alemanni told the Observer.

In recent weeks, police have made major inroads in the disruption of organised criminal networks based in St Catherine and Clarendon. Several top-tier members of the notorious Klansman gang — which operates out of Spanish Town — have been fatally shot, while its reputed leader Tesha Miller was last week sentenced to 15 years on firearm and robbery charges. Also, the police in Clarendon have fatally shot the leader of a deadly gang based in Bucknor.

The cops also have in custody several alleged gang leaders, including the West Kingston-based Harold 'Harry Dog' McLeod, Christopher 'Dog Paw' Linton and his alleged crony Nicholas Nesbeth.

Ambassador Alemanni said that the two cops are among the world's best crime fighters and would benefit the constabulary with their first-world knowledge of busting gangs.

"This is European money, but they are North Americans. We took the best, we did not tie our aid to European citizens," he said.

Meantime, nine communities on Wednesday received financial support amounting to just over J$9.6 million to undertake social projects. The projects are being funded under the EU's Poverty Reduction Programme.

The communities are Cassava Piece, Allman Town, McKintyre Villa, Hannah Town, August Town, Maverly, Waterhouse, Kintyre, and Winter's Pen in St Catherine.

All communities will benefit from the construction of extra classroom space, homes for the elderly and community centres, the ambassador said.

The signing-over ceremony took place after a tour of the Rennock Lodge School Feeding Programme, where the EU has funded a chicken-rearing project and a vegetable garden under the first phase of the GOLA project.

A total of 120 students of Rennock Lodge get breakfast and lunch each school day under the programme.

"This is another aspect of our support to volatile and vulnerable communities that we consider very important," he said.

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COMMENTS (22)

Maude Cooper
4/24/2011

I agree with you Mr. lee, considering those making less than intelligent comments do not even know the people coming, but are pointing accusing fingers. This is the reason why I hate when people toss all Jamaicans in one basket....

Mr. lee
4/23/2011

The negativity common among Jamaicans is clear from many of the comments. How about taking the point of view that there is the potential for some good to come of this, stop fighting positive and progressive efforts because at this point we need any help we can get.

Ella Johns
4/23/2011

I AGREE 100% WITH KERR ANTHONY PHILLIP. Finally somebody with some sense. In addition to what you have said, I would like people to be aware of all the rape cases of foreign military personnels and UN "peacekeepers". People please wake up and don't allow our country to fall further into a hole. Charles Taylor once said to be careful of decisions made in foreign offices on how to govern oneself (I paraphrased). PEOPLE PLEASE FOR GOD'S SAKE WAKE UP!!!!!!!

St. Ann
4/23/2011

@ Cassia Park, I agree with you, people like Shorna Watson are cowards they runaway when things was bad and contribute nothing to the betterment of this country but want to return to reap the harvest, not welcome!

Vincent Murray
4/23/2011

Why do Jamaicans believe that because its foreign its better. What do these crime fighters know about the inner workings of the communities and our culture. This is a waste of money. The best people to fight crime in Jamaica are the people who know the community and live in the community. It's the corruption in our police force that is hindering crimes from being solved.

Elli Deedo
4/23/2011

These reports are very complicated to understand. Senior Police officer Welch had just said our police officers are well trained and effecient disregarding their PSYCHOPATHIC behaviour. These same officers cannot get their salary increase, but they are getting more equipment and expert advise from European Union. Higher paid police will be there to assist them. Government should negotiate with the EU to help them increase our officers salary. Too many are into corruption because of a poor salary

Chuck Emanuel
4/23/2011

The most important driver of reputation is TRUST. It is fundamental to the survival of any Country.
CORRUPTION, BRIBERY, MONEY LAUNDERING, CRIMINAL AIDING AND ABETTING destroys Trust and damage social and economic developrment.
In order to sever the crime link, we must follow the sources and methods of the MONEY !.
We must seriously take a look at all suspicious wire payments to overseas 3rd parties to help with the facilitation of crime. Follow the money !

Mr B
4/23/2011

Wow 2 foreign Cops coming to JA. For 6mths to year at US$300,000 that would be the least $24, 000,000.00 that would be $2,000,000.00 a month 1 mil a month for each cop...So these cop are worth over $35000.00 a day. No wonder we get such poor police service in Jamaica......because the Government get what they pay for.....and all the are asking for is their 7% increase.....

norris Richards
4/23/2011

The DPP and the courts, also badly need help.

Cassia Park
4/23/2011

jamaica is getting harder right now,price a raise on everything,people a suffer and to shorna watson,you ran away and left sweet jamaica to your so called better life in foreign,what makes you think we want you back???stay in foreign with all the other jamaicans who sold out on there country and ran away for you so called better life,but u same person dying to come back to live.gweyyyyyyy

Cassia Park
4/23/2011

does everybody remember mark shields from england,yes what did he change??? nothing,This is a good try but these cops dont know how to deal with thirld world poverty that leads to these gangs,these gangs in jamaica are more ruthless than any gang in usa or canada.They dont have the forensics In jamaica to stop the criminals,since tesha miller in prision the klansman are worst,so it dont matter really,waste of money,good thing jamaica nuh pay for it

Maude Cooper
4/23/2011

Not so long ago some Jamaicans voice displeasure when the Jamaican government recruited cops from England. But I believed that was a good idea, as two heads are better than one and sharing of intelligence. Because the police abroad are familiar with the crimes played out in Jamaica, as many of the criminals were trained, tried and proven their expertise abroad then linking with local criminals became such a force that seemed to overwhelmed the JCF. But I am quite happy to say thanks to the local police whom in the end took control.

kerr anthony phillip
4/23/2011

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER VERY BACKWARD MOVE, HOW CAN YOU HAVE PEOPLE NOT OF YOUR CULTURE, HERITAGE OR YOUR (NATIONALITY) DETERMINING. MAJOR ISSUES THAT GOVERN US. OK, SO AFTER USING US AS A TEST CASE TO SEE HOW BEST TO START THE NEXT ROUND OF GLOBAL CONFUSION AND DECEPTION.
THEN HAVING EXECUTED THE REAL PLANS ELSEWHERE example,AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST.
THEY ARE NOW COMING ONCE MORE WITH THE DESTRUCTIVE HELPING HAND.
OUR COUNTRY NEED COMPETENT LEADERS NOT copiers leading us. BETTER LEADERS NEEDED

Jay Brown
4/23/2011

Suddenly I am beginning to feel hopeful about Jamaica. Somehow there seems to be that glimmer of light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.
If we can continue on the path, and we can reduce the level of waste which takes place as a result of corruption we could be well on our way.
The key thing is for Jamaicans( all a wi) to reject corruption as a way of life. The term " gimme a blye" is the very start of corruption as one is asking someone to turn a blind eye to a wrong, are you that person ?

Nicolas Henry
4/23/2011

Oversees crime fighters, What will they do, I guess they will recommend getting better technology for evidence gathering and gaining conviction. We all know that, why do we need foreigners to tell us so.. And for you observer, It's about time you post a different picture when posting articles about crime. Post pictures of other accused, like a politician that's currently on trial. I mean the never ending trial.

Jaye Stone
4/23/2011

Six months is good, for if they stay any longer radioactive corruption may render them ineffective, and they just might take a liking to the place and consider staying. And I hope the media will refrain from inflating expectations like they have done in the past for other "top cops" who just fizzled out.

Ainsworth Cole
4/23/2011

The Forum hotel complex and lands for a large command control and training base for Jamaica's security forces to include staff quarters for instructor and senior trainers local and overseas, Caribbean and local officers here for advance (CPD) training, a base for the marine police and other special forces, with continual professional development training been delivered for all officers. We must modernise, equip, train our police for modern crime fighting and the effective policing of our country

renrick hall
4/23/2011

every day one hears of another police cover up and behaviour of a questionable nature in the US. lets hope that these guys coming are not part of such a scheme already. i would ask that these guys be properly screened and have a good record of achieving results. big up the jamaican police everytime.

renrick hall
4/23/2011

it is not about the crime fighters, it is about the policies, the trust and the laws. police have the same methods of operation everywhere but the results are all different due to relationship with the public among other things. our policemen are good crime fighters by and large , but they need more to be effective. i hope that these invited crime fighters will not carry some of their controversal ways with them: for the same things that happen in Ja. happen in north Amarica. pray for them

Trevor Harris
4/23/2011

I really do hope this move bear some fruits.These thugs needs to be reigned in.I am also hopeful that this will be a positive for the JCF, making that they will learn from these two men , the art of good policing.

Shorna Watson
4/23/2011

I am bursting at the seams with excitement, hope our officers will take a page out of their book or photo copy the whole darn book figuratively speaking in terms of fighting crime. This is a positive move if crime rate is down many of us overseas would come home and start businesses, creating employment which would generate much needed revenue in our economy. Mr. Ellington make good use of these guys. Good luck

Alvin L.
4/23/2011

That is great to read of bolstering the J.C.F in their activities. It is always good news when you combine Law Enforcement techniques from different regions. It allows us to have a fresh set of eyes which will help in turning the tide on the criminal element.
Jamaica needs all the help it can get. This beautiful Island and most of all it's beautiful people who will not take anything from someone the majority of them did not earn, will get a fresh opportunity to relive the good peaceful life.

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Top North American crime fighters coming