SHARON Laing, the general manager in charge of group human resources and operations at Hawkeye Electronic Security Limited, says steps to revamp the company’s tactical procedures are already taking place, following the killing of one of its armed guards during a robbery in Portmore, St Catherine, on Tuesday.

“We operate as a family and we are all grieving,” she said.

“Of course we will be reinforcing our tactical procedures. We have not gotten all the information [about the shooting] as yet from investigations, and even though we have seen some already we are still gathering video footage,” said Laing.

The general manager, meanwhile, suggested that a high level of callousness was being bred within the criminals of today, who are being prompted to take on bold risks due to COVID-19-induced pressures. She, in the meantime, praised one of the Hawkeye guards who survived Tuesday’s gun battle, for exhibiting bravery and for acting “heroic”.

“There is an emotional escalation from COVID. There is desperation, there is lack of jobs and people have gotten fearless and uncaring. The robbers are now unconscionable. They are bold, unafraid, and are reckless to a point which makes them even more dangerous. In the past, a team being present, they would all depart. Now, there is very little caution even towards the police force and any other member of the security field. This boldness has just put us on a higher level of alert, caution and wisdom. If they can go in a church and attack in a church, it just shows the moral decay in the country. Somehow, we have to reach the hearts of people in order to make some change. The heart is now hard and callous and we have to find a way to reach those hearts,” she said.

Tuesday’s incident occurred at the Public Sector Employees Co-operative Credit Union at the Caribbean Estate housing scheme in Portmore as the two Hawkeye security personnel responded to a robbery.

The guard who has been hailed for gallantry reportedly entered the financial institution, but was quickly disarmed by the robbers. His colleague, the now deceased, was shot and killed as he attempted to enter the building shortly afterwards. However, the robbers were unaware that the other guard had another firearm, which he discharged, injuring one of the four gunmen before they escaped in a motor car parked close by.

Increased battles between gunmen and armed security guards entrusted to protect millions of dollars have become a serious concern for the manufacturing and broader business community.

Prior to Tuesday’s incident, 50-year-old Anthony Endem, an armed guard who was employed to Guardsman, was killed during a shoot-out with robbers in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, on March 3. Two of his colleagues were shot and injured.

President of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) Richard Pandohie has theorised that the spike in robbery and attempts at such have occurred because criminals have either become desperate or far more audacious than before.

He lamented that even while the pandemic wreaks economic havoc, robbers were stepping up their game, leading to a double whammy.

“What we are now seeing is that the level of robberies seem to be so well-organised, and they seem to be so well-armed, with firepower to take on anybody. It is a big concern. It has always been an issue and it has gotten increasingly so. We talk about the pandemic but the crime in Jamaica has been our epidemic. It is creating massive costs to business and killing off our people,” the JMEA president stressed in an interview with the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

“On top of all the pressures we have right now with COVID and reduced sales and everything, we have had to be spending more money trying to secure business. If they are taking on armed security, can you imagine if the staff was collecting? Things out there are rough. Everybody is being affected at this time including the underworld, clearly,” he said.