SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — Head of the Westmoreland Police Division, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Egbert Parkins, says measures put in place to address the spiraling crime rate in the parish are bearing fruit.

Addressing a press conference at the Westmoreland Divisional Headquarters in Savanna-la-Mar on Monday, SSP Parkins noted that as a result of the high level of criminal activities in the parish during the first quarter of the year, the police “went back to the drawing board” and identified gaps, and implement measures to address the issue.

The measures, he said, included the relentless pursuit of gang members.

“And as a result of our activities, we were successful in bringing some of the most wanted to justice,” stated SSP Parkins.

Among those, the parish commander said, that were brought to justice are: David Stewart, who was wanted for double murder; Dermain Williams, who was wanted for four murders, a double shooting and assault-at-common law; Neoarone Hayce, who was wanted for one murder; Jason Miller, who was wanted for one murder and two shootings; Lindel Powell, who was wanted for two murders; Ligal Miller, who was wanted for two murders; Howard Hughes, who was wanted for two cases of shooting; and Karlington Godfrey, who was wanted for nine murders and other offences.

“The icing on the cake is the demise of Sadam Mullings on Saturday who was wanted for four murders and was a person of interest in 12 murders,” said SSP Parkins.

“This (Mullings) was no easy criminal. He took on the police on the 20th of July while driving a motorcycle along with Brian Coke, who was injured, and later died in hospital,” SSP Parkins told reporters.

He said a Taurus pistol was allegedly removed from Coke’s body. Mullings escaped.

SSP Parkins pointed out that in the subsequent pursuit of Mullings, he was spotted about 4:20 am along the Hartford main road in Westmoreland on Saturday.

During a reported 30-minute gun battle, Mullings, who was travelling in a motorcar with three men aboard, reportedly sat on the window of the moving vehicle and fired shots at the lawmen. One of his accomplices was reported injured in the shoot-out, while a police service vehicle was damaged. A bullet was also reported lodged in a ballistic vest being worn by one of the policemen.

Hours later, the police, in hot pursuit of Mullings, found the alleged criminal in the Whitehouse area of Westmoreland. A gun battle reportedly ensued and Mullings was shot dead.

A glock pistol, a Uzi submachine gun, 112 nine 9mm rounds, two 7.62 rounds were reportedly found in his possession.

On Monday, SSP Parkins, who had high praise for his men, said that “it was the vest that saved the life of the officer who has been left shaken up.”

“He is traumatised. But, we are ensuring that he gets the right counselling. As a matter of fact, as we speak he should be in counselling… he was with the professionals. Because you have to understand, it was near death. No one would like that. And, it is not an easy road, looking back on what saved his life. His family would be in mourning. His kids, his mother at the same time would be mourning,” said SSP Parkins.

Since the start of the year, 77 people have been murdered in the parish, when comparison to 58 during the same period last year.

Gangs are reportedly responsible for roughly 58 per cent of that amount.