Senior cop warns criminals after firearm seizure

Superintendent Randy Sweeney, divisional commander for the St Andrew North police, has made it clear that the recovery of an illegal firearm in the year's early days reflects the lawmen's strategic direction for the year.

"Basically our crime-fighting strategy is one that reflects High Commander's focus deterrence and intelligence-led policing strategies," Sweeney told THE STAR. "We will continue to focus on those individuals and to an extent areas that are likely to contribute to crime."

"We believe that in order to effectively manage crime then a holistic approach is required. We talking about community-based policing, so partnership is important. As such we continue to collaborate with our stakeholders such as the residents themselves, the churches, businesses, media, government and non-government organisations, and elected officials," he added. Sweeney said these partnerships help to build trust, as well as assist the gathering of meaningful information for operations and resource deployment.

The firearm --a Glock 17 pistol fitted with a switch popularly referred to as a 'chip Glock' - was seized in the popular Big Yard area of Mannings Hill Road, after officers on foot patrol were engaged by a suspect who pulled a firearm at them. The cops returned fire, wounding the man, who was later pronounced dead at hospital.

"The removal of this firearm is significant. Not only do the 17 rounds that were seized reflect 17 lives being saved, but it also tells these persons who are hell-bent on creating mayhem in the division that we are very serious about protecting lives," said Sweeney.

Police records indicate that by late September 2025, nearly 50 illegal guns were seized in the division, as police and soldiers intensified searches in high-risk areas off Mannings Hill Road and beyond. Sweeney said that the police will not allow criminals to hold the division and by extension Jamaica, hostage.

"We are using this opportunity to encourage them to put down the guns or, better yet, let the police retrieve them and choose a better path for themselves, their families, their communities and our country," he said. He also urged the public to share information to help remove guns from the streets and curb gang violence by calling 119, 311, or 876-924-1421.