POLICE COMMISSIONER Francis Forbes yesterday assured residents of Trac Gate district in Lawrence Tavern, St. Andrew, that investigations into the gun slaying of seven-year-old Romaine Edwards would be expedited.
At least two policemen believed to involved in Monday's incident have been removed from front-line duties and transferred, immediately, from the Lawrence Tavern Police Station to the Constant Spring Police Station.
Detectives from the Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI) are now probing the circumstances under which the child was killed. They are trying to establish whose bullet snuffed out his life.
Following Monday's mass protest and roadblocks staged by residents of the community, Commissioner Forbes, executive members of the Police Federation and other senior officers visited the area yesterday and spoke with the people.
"An innocent person has been killed and I am here to express my sympathies on behalf of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. We will be talking with the relatives and will also be assisting in whatever area we can, because the parents are very poor people," said Commissioner Forbes.
He also pointed out that part of his trip was to get a first-hand view of the terrain where the Norris Brown-led "Taliban Gang" was operating and why the police were having difficulty apprehending them.
Young Romaine, a student of Lawrence Tavern Primary, was struck by several bullets during an alleged shootout between a police party and members of Brown's gang. Police reports said the lawmen went to a house in the district and were confronted by gunmen and a shootout ensued.
According to the deceased's grandfather, 56-year-old Hubert Edwards, the police were shooting at Romaine's father, Byran, who was released from detention hours before by the police. Allegations are that the shots pierced a zinc fence and hit the child in the back, right armpit, neck and right side. He died on the spot.
Residents, claiming to be eye-witnesses, told Commissioner Forbes what took place. They denied there was any shootout between the police and gunmen.
"The investigations will show that," Commissioner Forbes assured them.
Since January, 65 persons have been shot and killed by the police in "confrontations", this is 13 less than the number killed by the police during the corresponding period last year.
Chairman of the Police Federation, Sergeant Steve Brown, who also visited the community, said the federation would offer maximum assistance either in kindness or cash.
"Yes, we will accept any assistance they are offering, but the Commissioner must deal with those policemen because they are wicked," said Romaine's grandfather.
The "Taliban Gang", which operates in the Lawrence Tavern and adjoining communities of St. Andrew, was once called the "Scallawag Gang", but recently changed its name. Allegations are the gang has been extorting money from bus operators and terrorising the community.
A month ago, a conductor on one of the buses in the area was shot and injured after he refused to pay protection fee to members of the gang.
