Assistant Commissioner Michael Phipps, head of the Area 4 Police, says the command is determined to shed its reputation as the police area with the highest number of murders in Jamaica.
Area 4 comprises the Kingston Central, Kingston Western, St. Andrew South, St. Andrew Central and Kingston Eastern divisions.
ACP Phipps said the Area recorded 28 fewer murders when compared to the corresponding period last year.
Following review of the Area’s crime trends, ACP Phipps said the target is to keep the murder count below 120 by the end of the year. He said Operation Iron Shield was launched last month to intensify policing in crime hotspot communities.
“If you look at the operational outcomes from these ops, we see where Kingston Western, for instance, had a murder-free month and we know that was because of the intensification of our efforts within that particular division. Because you know, and I think all of Jamaica knows that Kingston Western is a very tough place, and to see Kingston Western having a murder-free month is a remarkable feat. And that could not have been achieved by us just doing the ordinary things,” he acknowledged.
ACP Phipps said based on the current trajectory of declining murders, Area 4 has a real opportunity to make history by recording its lowest murder tally.
“If we are able to do that, it will be an historical feat right across the Area, never yet seen because at all times, Area 4 usually brings in the largest number of murders for the island of Jamaica and we want to relinquish that particular title, and I think we are on way to doing that. So the support of the team is really, really encouraging,” he stressed.