Outgoing St Thomas Superintendent commends PNP candidate

Police Superintendent Charmaine Shand, who was head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force St Thomas operation until last week, has commended efforts by People’s National Party candidate for West St Thomas, Marsha Francis in quelling tensions in Friendship Pen after 22-year-old Shemar Elliott was killed last week.

Supt Shand was speaking at the St Thomas Parish Council’s monthly meeting where she was making her final presentation as the parish’s top cop.

She said that were it not for the timely intervention of Francis, who was driving by and saw road blocks being mounted by residents and stopped, the situation could have led to increased tension between the residents and the police who were experiencing difficulties getting the irate residents to cooperate.

IN PHOTO: People’s National Party candidate for West St Thomas, Marsha Francis

“Francis came and spoke to them calmly. She convinced them that blocking the roads with burning debris and confronting the police were not solutions to solving the problem,” Supt Shand said.

“I must publicly commend her for taking the time to mediate in that difficult situation,” she added.

Elliott was gunned down in the wee hours of last Wednesday morning by unknown assailants.

The killing is currently being investigated by the Independent Commission of Investigations.