The investigating capacity of the St James Police Division, which has recorded over 40 murders since the start of the year, is being boosted with the arrival of additional detectives in the parish.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) headquarters will also closely monitor serious cases in the division.

“We are adding new personnel to the cadre of detectives down there already, and headquarters will pay close attention to serious crimes committed in St James. It is going to be a more comprehensive approach to investigations,” head of the CIB, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ealan Powell disclosed.

He added:”We are also going to focus a little more on the use of technology.”

Despite the best efforts of the St James cops, led by Superintendent Derrick Champagnie, of the 19 geographic divisions in the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the St James division has recorded the most murders so far this year.

Just last week four persons, Shaya Prince, 8, her mother 28-year-old Loise Watson, also called Latti; Junior Peter Scott, 26, of a Waterhouse address and 22-year-old Kimali Walker of a Denham Town, West Kingston address were brutally gunned down during a pre-dawn attack in Richmond Hill, Bickersteth.

Reports are that between 2:00am and 2:30am last Thursday, residents heard gunshots in the community.

Later that morning, the four bullet-riddled bodies were discovered in the section of a house occupied by Scott’s mother.

Following the massacre, the police released the name of Kevin Hodge,alias ‘Tafari’, 29, of a Jenkins Corner, Barrett Town, St James address, as a person of interest. He has subsequently turned himself in – accompanied by his lawyer – to the police.

Yesterday, ACP Powell disclosed that the CIB is now assessing the evidence gathered in the Richmond Hill incident.

“We are doing a review on it. We are looking at all the evidence we have so far. We are looking at the scientific evidence, we are looking on other evidence that are available to look at where we are in terms of investigation and what else needs to be done to advance the investigation,” he told the Jamaica Observer West.

Last week, Commissioner of Police Dr Carl Williams pledged to bring the killers of the four in Richmond Hill to justice, during a visit to the area where he met with members of the community, including relatives of those who were murdered.

He was accompanied on the tour of the community by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of crime, Glenmore Hinds, head of the St James police division, SP Derrick Champagnie, Area One commander, ACP Paul Ferguson and other senior cops assigned to the St James division.

“We journeyed down here just to meet with the relatives, to commiserate with them, to extend our condolences for the tragic loss of their relatives. I know that is very little [but] we hope that the words that we left with them will comfort them. We want to assure them also that the killers will not go unpunished,” the police commissioner promised.

“We are here to just assure the community that we are on the job and standing with them to ensure that these killers, and those out there who will prey on this community, will not be allowed to do so.”

Meanwhile, the Police High Command has announced that SSP Superintendent Steve McGregor will return to St James as Divisional Commander replacing SP Champagnie.

But, Minority Leader and former Mayor of Montego Bay Charles Sinclair argues that transfers are not the solution to the parish’s crime problem.

“We view this transfer as part of the operational functions of the JCF and we are in no way opposed to any transfer within the organisation. However, we are of the view that it appears to be the only response that the JCF has ever implemented whenever there is a spike in murders without making revolutionary and meaningful adjustments to the organisation, including physical and human resource capability within the parish. We may ask what has really changed in the organisational structure or operational practices in St James since SSP McGregor was last here as the divisional commander?”

Sinclair suggested several areas that should be looked at to make meaningful impact on police capability within the parish including dividing the parish into at least two divisions with adequate human and physical resources.

ACP Ferguson who praised SSP Champagnie for his contribution to the division, noted that as the police revs up its efforts to stem the spate of murders, they have intensified their target on wanted men and suspects.

Two persons who were listed as most wanted last week have since surrendered to the police, ACP Ferguson said.

He added that enhancement to the middle management of the division will be completed shortly.

“We have been carrying out a number of raids. We have been gathering intelligence on people who are wanted. We have regular hot spot patrols and we are seeking the support of communities,” ACP Ferguson pointed out.

He argued that more than half of the murders committed in St James this year stemmed from disputes involving players in the lottery scam.

“About 53 percent of the murders were related indirectly to persons involved in the lottery scam. And another 30 percent were related to gang activities. And the gangs are directly or indirectly involved in the lottery scam. They extort the lotto scammers or any type of activities derived from the lottery scam,” said ACP Ferguson.