STREET rumours have surfaced that the Klansman gang in Spanish Town has vowed to revenge slain leader Donovan ‘Bulbie’ Bennett by targeting the police, but Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas said yesterday he would not retreat from the threat and was prepared to take the fight to them.

“Information is on the ground and as usual our members are aware that when a don dies, people speak of taking policemen out,” said Thomas.

“We are going to find them before they find us,” he declared to reporters in Spanish Town, following a meeting with business operators.

“We recognise that there are other people who have been supporting this individual and we are going to go hunt them wherever they are,” he commented to reporters.

The commissioner said the police have received intelligence, which indicates that Klansman members are now at odds over the area don’s assets.

Bulbie was estimated by the police to be worth about $100 million.

“We now understand that there are some infighting as to the assets and who should control the extortion. We are aware of that intelligence and we are on the ground and we are going to find these guys before they reunite because we know who they are and we are going to cut the head off.”

Thomas’ visit to Spanish Town was as much to assure citizens that the police would keep on top of the crime problem there, as it was a show of support, he said, for “my superintendent and staff for the excellent work they have done over the last month, especially over the last week when we had some trying times after the death of the most wanted man in Jamaica, Donovan ‘Bulbie’ Bennett.”

He said there were new policing initiatives being undertaken in the town, which he told reporters he could not disclose for security reasons.

Dennis Robotham, president of the St Catherine Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that while he was heartened by the commissioner’s visit, again stressed the need for the state to invest more money in social programmes.

“We have got to begin to spend some serious capital,” said Robotham, to provide economic opportnuties for residents, as well as homes and jobs. “Unless we do that, the (crime) situation will be with us,” said the chamber president.

“I believe that we have to begin to put in capital and it has to come from the government.”

He also noted that the town was committed to rehabilitating the police post that was fire bombed during the two-day demonstrations in Spanish Town in the wake of Bulbie’s killing on October 31.