THE police over the weekend launched a community policing project in the inner-city community of Grants Pen in Kingston, forming part of a US$6-million island-wide project to fight crime in the island.

“We are going to meet (at the Constant Spring Police Station) every Monday at 3:00 pm with police officers, members of the community and the ministers’ fraternity,” said head of the St Andrew North police, Deputy Superintendent Assan Thompson.

The project was launched at the United Pentecostal Church in the community on Sunday evening.

In addition, Thompson said that the project would shortly be identifying model citizens from the community, to put into mentoring. “We will have a mentorship programme at New Day School in Grants Pen.”

The main elements of the project include:

* developing a unique police station that will provide a range of services to the community;

* training about 50 police officers in community relations as well as other community-related matters; and

* developing a public education aspect to update the general public.

The project will eventually find a home within the heart of the community, where a training centre will double as a police post.

“We have not decided on a site for the station yet, but we have identified possible locations. We want to have a place that is mutually accepted by all the parties ,” said Sasha Parke, programme specialist at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) which is funding the project.

The launch is part of a US $6 million island-wide community policing program that seeks to address the fundamental constraints to improving police and community relationships in Jamaica.

The project is a collaborative effort between the United States Government, the Government of Jamaica, American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) and Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The focus on community policing was one of the recommendations of a report done by the US-based group, PERF, on how to reduce the high rate of crime in Jamaica in 2001.

The PERF report made 83 recommendations, 80 of which have been accepted by the Jamaican government.

Sunday’s launch saw member of parliament Delroy Chuck and his rival, Leanard Green of the People’s National Party (PNP) sitting side by side as a gesture of friendship in the politically-divided community.

Earl Morgan, the church’s minister, remarked “As both candidates are sitting here in peace, I only hope that their followers would be likewise.”

Speaking to the relationship between the citizens and the police Morgan added: “We want the residents to see the police not as foes but as friends and for the police to see us (the residents) with respect because respect begets respect.”