Nagra Plunkett, Staff Reporter
Police tour sections of Norwood after multiple murders in the community. - MONIQUE HEPBURN PHOTO
WESTERN BUREAU:
INCREASED POLICE presence and a greater push for police confidence among residents are among the short-term plans identified for the crime-ravaged community of Norwood, St. James.
"Policing presence there will be increased indefinitely," Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields, told The Gleaner yesterday. "I've left some very clear instructions that I expect the stops and searches in that area to be increased and the presence will be maintained continuously."
He added that detectives would continue with investigations over the days ahead and that there were a number of significant leads being pursued.
The St. James police are expected to release the identities of five men, whom they say are responsible for Tuesday's killings of five people in the community, today. The suspects are said to be members of the notorious Stone Crusher Gang.
"We are also looking at some incentives for people to call in and assist us with intelligence that can assist us in making arrests," disclosed Superintendent Warren Clarke, commanding officer for the division.
TWO COORDINATED ATTACKS
Gang violence claimed the lives of the five persons during two coordinated attacks in the area on Tuesday morning. However, there has been a spate of killings in the inner-city community over the past three months.
Those killed during Tuesday's attacks are 43-year-old shopkeeper Patrick Anderson; 29-year-old Natalie Ferguson; 57-year-old Linda Malcolm, her common-law husband, 62-year-old Michael Montaque, and their 20-year-old son Michael Jr. The houses of Anderson and the Montaque family were torched.
"Military patrols were discussed, it is something that will be discussed further when I return to Kingston ... but I'm not optimistic that we will have a huge military presence," Mr. Shields explained as he called for residents to be more co-operative with the police. "I believe that the policing resources that we have are adequate and can be effective as long as they're constantly reviewed."
In the meantime, Opposition Leader Bruce Golding, Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith; and Member of Parliament for the area, Dr. Horace Chang, met with Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas to discuss the Norwood crisis.
In a press statement, the Jamaica Labour Party promised to maintain dialogue with the Police Commissioner with a view to ensuring that effective measures are implemented.
"The commissioner seems aware of the problems and challenges. I believe that decisions will be undertaken in a number of days that should be beneficial to the community," Dr. Chang said.
