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Bloody St Andrew South gets new police chief - Several other divisions get new head in latest shake-up

Published:Monday | October 21, 2019 | 12:09 AMJason Cross/Gleaner Writer
Cameron
Cameron

Jamaica’s deadliest police region, St Andrew South, is among police divisions and units across the island that have been given new heads in the latest shake-up of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s top brass.

St Andrew South, which has racked up an unenviable murder tally of more than 130 since the start of the year, is one of seven police divisions currently under a state of emergency as the Government tries to stem runaway homicides.

St Andrew South has seen a fall in murders since the security measure was implemented on July 7 but is still experiencing a high level of crime. Last week, six persons were murdered in the division in the space of 48 hours.

The Police High Command has announced that the division will now be led by Superintendent Wayne Cameron, who is switching places with Superintendent Gary Francis, who is heading to Manchester.

Deputy Superintendent Shane McCalla has also been reassigned from St Andrew South to the National Police College of Jamaica.

Stephanie Lindsay, who was promoted to senior superintendent last week, has been reassigned to the Community Safety and Security Branch from St Andrew Central.

“Where I am now, I will be able to make a greater contribution to society,” she told The Gleaner yesterday.

Senior Superintendent Gary McKenzie, who was stationed in Westmoreland, has been moved to Specialised Operations.

Superintendent Maldria Jones was transferred from the Crime and Security Branch to Kingston Central. Superintendent Robert Gordon has left Kingston Central for Westmoreland.

Deputy Superintendent Andrew Edwards has now been assigned to Armoury HQ at the National Police College, moving from St Catherine North. A Deputy Superintendent Richards, who was at the Inspectorate of Constabulary, is now at St Catherine North.

Deputy Superintendent Gaynor has left St Catherine North to High Probe. Deputy Superintendent K. Chin was reassigned from the National Police College to the Administration Branch.

A Deputy Superintendent Simmons has left the St Thomas Division for the Services Branch.

Meanwhile, The Gleaner understands that Senior Superintendent Terrence Bent, who was the last person to head Mobile Reserve before it was disbanded, is now at the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB). Bent was sent on leave in early May after three cops assigned to the division were implicated in a fatal shooting incident at a party in Chedwin Park, St Catherine.

When contacted yesterday, Bent refused to confirm his current assignment.

“I am not prepared to say at this time,” he told The Gleaner.

However, a well-placed police source told The Gleaner that Bent, who was ground commander at Kanye West’s Sunday Service concert at Emancipation Park in New Kingston on Friday evening, is at PSTEB.

jason.cross@gleanerjm.com