JCF backing new unit to bring order
Assistant Commissioner of Police Gary McKenzie is clarifying that the duties of the recently formed BEAT Officer Patrol Division (BOPD) do not overlap those of the Quick Response Team (QRT).
“The Quick Response Unit, their specific mandate is to respond to critical incidents. The QRT was established first in the Corporate Area and I’ve seen it spread across divisions within Jamaica. And so what they do is that all street-related crimes and major incidents, to include any major fire, any major crash, any sort of catastrophe, the responsibility is to respond quickly to it. And in addition, they actually conduct surveillance across the areas that are likely to, or the possibility exists, for such type of incidents and to ensure that they are prevented,” he said.
“For the BOPD the main responsibility is that they will be patrolling on foot and on bicycles and their responsibility is to occupy areas and spaces across the Corporate Area to ensure that those areas are safe,” he told THE
STAR.
“Their responsibilities are to provide reassurance and visibility to the public, to ensure that there are no crimes committed, not only on the roadways, but within the plazas and within commercial areas. And they will ensure that there are no disorders such as congestion or any other form of obstruction,” he added.
McKenzie was speaking to the news team after yesterday’s Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) media briefing. Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake said that the BOPD “embodies our commitment to proactive community-oriented policing”. The BOPD was established on March 25.
Meanwhile, McKenzie said that the response to the QRT has been good, as the unit, which travels on motorcycles, has been able to respond more efficiently than cars would be able to, in spaces such as the closed paths around Portmore.
“Also within the densely populated areas of Kingston, they are able to manoeuvre much faster, so they have proven to be very effective in terms of responding and certainly the level of support they have been able to give other units,” he said. Regarding the BOPD, McKenzie said that since its launch, the presence and order given across the Corporate Area has been very good.
“In fact, we are seeing where there is a decline in reports, in some reports of street crime, and so it is very important that it is sustained,” he said.