Monique Hepburn, News Editor

Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Area One, Keith 'Trinity' Gardner. - File

WESTERN BUREAU:

Assistant Commissioner of Police Keith 'Trinity' Gardner yesterday confirmed that he has made a request of Commissioner of Police, Lucius Thomas to facilitate his transfer from the Area One Division, which encompasses western parishes.

Citing that he is pressed to be close to his young family, ACP Gardner told The Gleaner that he has requested to be located within or near Kingston.

"It (the request) is out of family need. I have a very young family, the youngest of whom is 16 months-old," he explained. "I have young kids in school that need supervision."

The 34-year veteran of the Jamaica Constabulary Force commented that he was dispatched to Western Jamaica in April 2005 on the understanding that it would be for a year. However, when that time period elapsed, he was asked by the commissioner to extend his sojourn for another six months.

"The understanding was that the assignment would be just around a year. Just about that time when the period approached, I wrote to him (the commissioner) requesting that I be sent back to Kingston or near to Kingston. I was then asked to hold on for another six months."

"I am now on vacation leave which ends in October. "I don't want to talk as if I am leaving because my transfer is the prerogative of the Commissioner of Police but I am anticipating that he will grant a favourable response."

Of utmost importance

The father of 17, ACP Gardner said family was of utmost importance to him.

He stated that he wished to thank residents of western Jamaica who supported him during his tenure and urged them to continue to support the work of the police in the region.

"I want to say thank you for the support of the law-abiding citizens who are served by the Area One Division. They held me in high esteem and I appreciate their support."

He went on to note that the general thrust of community-based policing strategies, coupled with a multi-agency approach to crime solving and prevention would be maintained.

Pauline Reid, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry told The Gleaner that ACP Gardner had contributed significantly to crime fighting in the region.