PORT MARIA, St Mary — In an effort to ease the tension that has followed what cops said was a shoot-out with armed thugs on September 7, the new commanding officer for St Mary, Deputy Superintendent Anthony Wallace, will meet with residents of Islington on Friday.

“There has been some discontent among members of the Islington community, based on past occurrences. This has resulted in some tension between police and residents, — hence the meeting,” DSP Wallace told the Jamaica Observer on Thursday.

After the September incident, which involved members of the Operation Support Team (OST), 25-year-old Roshane “Spooky” Lovelace of Lyndon Housing Scheme died and four individuals were taken into custody. Among them was a woman.

The residents have rejected the police’s claim of a shoot-out, and some individuals reportedly made threats against the police. This led to the community being placed under curfew and all party events put on hold.

On Thursday, resident Amika Codlin welcomed the upcoming meeting. She complained that the community has been at a standstill since the incident.

“No party, no dance, nothing happening inna the place; we wah free up,” she told the
Observer.

But another resident who identified himself as Shortman is sceptical that the meeting will make any meaningful difference.

“A now dem a come have meeting and what happened done happen and innocent people dead and a go prison? Nothing nah come out a dis; a just pure talk,” he groused.

However, DSP Wallace is optimistic that there will be a return to the previously cordial relationship between cops and residents.

“We aim to maintain that good relationship and to continue to collaborate,” he said.

The DSP replaced Superintendent Bobette Morgan-Simpson who retired earlier this month.

— Ingrid Henry