Community policing reaps success in Coral Gardens

Karrie Williams, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Residents of the Coral Gardens community in Montego Bay are expressing satisfaction at the community policing initiatives that are being employed by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force operating within their area.

The police are being praised for their quick response time to telephone requests for assistance, regular patrols throughout the community and a genuine sense of care.

Among those commending the police was an elderly gentleman who has been living in the community for decades. He recounted his own experience when a neighbour's house was recently broken into by robbers.

"The police arrived on the scene in less than five minutes of receiving the call, and they set about immediately looking for the robbers, who unfortunately, were long gone ... . At my age, I feel vulnerable, but the quick response of the police made me feel safe," he said.

Speaking with Western Focus, head of the Coral Gardens police Inspector Yvonne Whyte-Powell expressed appreciation to the residents for their recognition of her work and that of her team members, and stated that it is a strong desire to see the people of Jamaica safe and protected, that keeps them motivated.

"Jamaica is such a beautiful country; we have the Caribbean sea and a host of wonderful scenic things that people pay a lot of money to come here and enjoy, and we believe that our citizens that live here should be able to enjoy all that is here in safety and with some measure of security," said Whyte-Powell.

While acknowledging her team for their dedication and commitment, Whyte-Powell also thanked residents for their own efforts in assisting the police to do their jobs effectively.

Policing initiatives

"I cannot overemphasise the importance of community policing," the Inspector said. "The population is significantly more than the police, so we can only properly police the community if we have their involvement ... . I am very pleased with the level of support that we receive from the citizens."

With regular patrols being a major aspect of the station's community policing initiatives, Whyte-Powell said her officers "are out there because people should be policed from within their community. The police station should only be a landmark that if you need to get to the police, you know that you can get them at that particular location, but it should certainly not be where our policing takes place, because we need to go out into the community and really be among the people."

Speaking on the matter of personal and home security, the inspector said that some common breaches could be averted if residents were to practise some simple safety rules.

"If you live on a street, get to know your neighbours' telephone numbers, and always be alert ... . If you see someone strange, call your neighbour to make enquiries. Ensure your premises are properly lit, cut down all overgrown vegetation, and very importantly, know the number of police station, which is 953-2229," she said.

She also warned against ladders being left lying outside, as she said in many instances, they were being used to gain unauthorised entry into homes.

The Coral Gardens Police Station has policing responsibilities for the communities of Coral Gardens, Ironshore, Spring Farm Drive, White House Fishing Village, Flankers, and the 'Elegant Corridor' along the Rose Hall main road.