MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Councillors here on Thursday heaped praise on the Jamaica Constabulary Force for their crime-fighting efforts that have resulted in a decrease in homicides, even as one of their colleagues issued a call for more community policing.

Councillor Karl Smith (People’s National Party, Knockpatrick Division) made the call against the backdrop of this week’s triple fatal shooting by cops in St Toolies, and pointed to what he said was fear of the police among some residents.

“We need more community policing, especially in Knockpatrick. There are people who see the police as a threat, even as they do their work. We want to change that dynamic, so we have quite a few things on the table, one of which includes a night football league and forming different police youth clubs in the space,” he said during Thursday’s meeting of the Manchester Municipal Corporation.

Smith welcomed the outreach done by sub-officer in charge of the Mandeville Police Station Inspector Romaine Brooks to organise the social intervention events for Cedar Grove, Green Street, and other areas in Knockpatrick.

“We will definitely see a change in the Knockpatrick area in the near future,” said Smith.

He said four murders in December, connected to the Knockpatrick area, left him disappointed and communities under curfew.

Minority leader Councillor Omar Miller (Jamaica Labour Party, Craighead Division) lauded the police for the seizure of prohibited weapons and ammunition.

“I just want to assure the residents that on a whole, Manchester, we are going to continue to take control of the crime situation, because we want to see the crime go down. I am happy. I am surprised the police are not here today, because I want to commend them for the work they have been doing thus far,” he said.

“Because most of the shootings by the police now we are seeing where firearms are being recovered, illegal firearms, and that is something we must commend them for. They are saving innocent lives. We will continue to work with the police in this parish,” he added.

On Monday, police, during what they said was an intelligence-led operation, fatally shot three men in St Toolies near Porus. A fourth man who reportedly tried to elude that operation was also fatally shot in the adjoining area of Toll Gate, Clarendon. Police said three firearms were seized during the incidents.

Councillor Mario Mitchell (PNP, Bellefield Division) also lauded the police.

“I commend the police on the job done last year. Thirty years of crime reduction figures is significant and I think that Manchester played a significant role in that, so Superintendent [Carey] Duncan and his team must be commended for that,” said Mitchell.

SMITH… there are people who see the police as a threat… we want to change that dynamic