Vernon Embedded In The JCF -Tours Tough Areas In Kingston With SSP Steve McGregor and his Team

I saw the the gadget in someone's office and the moment I saw it, I said to myself, my dream has come through. For a number of years I have been making overtures to the hierarchy of the Jamaica Constabulary Force to work with them. I have been firm in my believe that the media can play a more important role in assisting the members of the constabulary force to fight crime. With the gadget that I was looking at, there would be no need to invest in any expensive equipment to do an outside broadcast. I could be embedded in the police force and observe the areas that they have to police and I could be commenting live on air at the same time. 

Al Robinson the CEO of Cornwall Broadcasting Company, endorsed the plan for me to be embedded with the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and to observe their operations.  My concern was, how do I get the police involved and to get them to buy into this idea. I called SSP Steve McGregor who unequivocally agreed to the plan, but he outlined to me that I would have to get permission to undertake this venture. I contacted SSP Lindsay and others and in a matter of a day the plan was hatched and I was ready to go.

I have a new gadget which works with a cell phone but you are also aware of the challenges of using the cell phone in Jamaica. There were certain logistical nightmares to deal with. My producer cannot be embedded with the police with me, because she had to remain in the studio. How does she communicates with me, while I am doing the broadcast? There were other technical issues but Shackera Campbell and I were able to overcome these hurdles.

The one hurdle I should have expected but did not expect, was that SSP McGregor had a top level meeting at that time with members of the police top brass. I tried to get an officer to assist me but he said to me, "Mr. Derby I cannot go into that meeting and interrupt SSP McGregor." The minutes were ticking away I felt every muscle in my body starting to tremble with fear. This grand plan was about to crash. 

The thought of heading back to Riddim FM to do an impromptu show was unthinkable. That thought was shelved when SSP McGregor came out of the meeting, and said he was ready to go. I was ushered into the back of his vehicle while he sat in the front with his driver.  There was a vehicle leading in front of our vehicle and there was another vehicle  behind us. We were on our way and I started the broadcast. 

With lighting speed all three police vehicles sped out of Area 4, police headquarters at Harman Barracks with a talk show host embedded with a police team.  I really did not know what to expect. We went into Dunkirk first, and as we arrived, all police offices disembarked from their vehicles in a manner which showed they are quite familiar with this operation. They took up their positions in the Dunkirk square. The area felt eerie because no one was on the street. I only saw one dog which appeared toothless and he was not perturbed by the presence of the police officers. SSP McGregor not only knows the territory well, he knows the people well also. I asked him why the streets were so empty? He said that the people went to a dance last night so they are all fast asleep.

You could see that the NSWMA had just done a cleanup of the area - probably made possible with the acquisition of some new garbage trucks. SSP McGreggor pointed to the gullies which are used as get-away routes by the criminals when they are confronted by law officers. I noticed the narrow streets in the area, and I wondered how the police were able to navigated these areas. The trees were overgrown and some seemed as if they were touching the JPSCo lines. I was also shocked to see a number of incandescent bulbs shining brightly while the sun was blasting its light all over the place. 

After getting more information from SSP McGregor for my listeners, we then sped off to Southside. There were more persons on the streets and definitely more commercial activities in this area. Young people and adults alike, greeted SSP McGregor like one of their brothers. Some were not willing to speak to me but a few were. Those who spoke, were quite open about SSP McGregor and his modus operandi as an officer of the law. One man remarked, "im listen to we when we talk to him". Others chimed in agreement and said other police officers should treat them similar to how SSP McGregor treats them. SSP McGreggor seems to know everyone and they definitely know him. We stopped by a bar, and we chatted with persons on the corner. They were all unanimous in that they are tired of the crime and they support the state of emergency. They blamed the crime on the youth dem.

Our next stop was Tivoli Gardens. We stopped in that famous square where you have the community centre on one side, and the police station on the other. There were very few people on the streets. I went into the police station and my eye caught the big heavy log book which is still being used to record statements. I asked the officer in charge, about the security of this big book, in case there was a fire. It was not difficult to interpret the smile which he responded with. I am very concerned about Tivoli, because although it was known as a place with criminal elements, it was the centre of cultural activities in Jamaica. They even had a recording studio there. I asked the officers about the broken glass at the entrance of the Tivoli Gardens Police Station. The answer came quickly - "Gun man dem shat up di place", he replied.

The Tivoli station has about 12 security officers there.  Some were off due to illness and other matters. Normally they are short staff but now they are short short staff.

I was quickly whisked out of that area to another area known as Wilton Gardens. There  were very few persons on the streets here also. I looked at the high rise buildings and I wondered about these communities, and how they function. In this kind of living environment. These high rise buildings with families living so close to one another requires discipline and strong social order or else you must have conflicts.

I did not have enough time to do more detailed inspections of the area, but I saw what seemed like sewer water running on the streets in Wilton Gardens. I saw high rise buildings which local terrorists could position themselves atop of these high rise buildings, and members of the security force could be sitting ducks below.

Time was running out, and the programme was about to ends at 1300 hours EST. We had to head back to base. SSP McGregor did his usual debriefing and possible briefing for other operations. Oh yes I heard a few gun shots, but apparently no shots were fired close to us.

What a day it was, embedded with the members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. One thing is clear, and that is, as citizens we have no idea as to what we expect the police to do while not being properly equipped nor do they have sufficient members. We might be giving the men and the women of the police force basket to carry water. In the back of my mind the matter of overtime pay is still an outstanding matter which must be affecting the morale of the force. 

The next time I go with the officers I would like to go when they are about to raid somewhere. It was a great experience sharing the experiences of the police officers on the ground. I was able to speak to SSP Alice Byfield in Thomas by phone, and she was proud to inform me that a citizen donated a drone to the station. More persons need to come forward to support the police. Finally we urgently need a Reserve Police Force. We certainly need more officer in Kingston and also in rural Jamaica.

Click her to meet SSP Steve McGregor and his team.

 

SSP McGregor and his men

In Wilton Gardens

Dunkirk

SSP Steve McGregor