Commissioner Addresses Recent Gun Violence
Commissioner of Police Michael DeSilva has responded to a ZBM news report suggesting a large shipment of ammunition recently arrived in Bermuda, and the price of ammunition on the streets may have dropped 50%.
The past few weeks have seen an increased amount of firearm incidents. Last month there were two shootings with no injuries in Sandys, a shooting without injury in Smiths, a shooting without injury in Pembroke, and the murder of Michael Phillips in Devonshire.
Mr DeSilva said: “The Bermuda Police Service has not received any reports of shipments of illegal ammunition or any information about planned retaliations between rival gangs.
“I encourage anyone with genuine information about either of these scenarios to contact the police directly, or to make an anonymous report through Crime Stoppers on 800-8477. Crime Stoppers will reward up to $100,000 for information that leads to an arrest and conviction, or a seizure of a firearm.
“The island has experienced an increase in firearms incidents in the last few months, as compared with the rest of the year. The number of rounds that have been discharged at each incident lately is higher than we have typically seen.
“Whether or not a fresh supply of ammunition has been smuggled is not clear: but it is clear that there are still gunmen at large that need to be captured and brought to justice. Our Community Action Teams have been patrolling in several neighbourhoods this week, especially in the Somerset area, to speak with residents.
“We are looking for information that will lead us to arrest the shooters, or find the guns, before the next shot is fired. Every piece of information that the public gives us is helpful.
“I have also looked at the deployment of our armed police officers and I have taken steps this week to provide more coverage, especially in the areas that need it.
“We cannot predict exactly where the next shooting might take place, but I have ensured that we will have an appropriate level of armed response to react immediately,” concluded Mr DeSilva.
as long as the police fear these guys nothing will be done. the police are scared to deal with the people they know are responsible. we need a proper police force, not these imported cops that arent wanted in their own countries police forces. the police here really are a joke.
Chip, stop b!tchin, apply for a job, the Police are hiring, and show us all how its done if you have all the answers. But i’m guessing you’d rather stay at home with your family and not put yourself in harms way like the brave officers both from our shores and overseas do.
And i’m sure if something went wrong in your life from being effected by crime the first people you’d go running to are the joke police officers.
Brave officers?? Harms way?? They can’t even catch a kid throwing eggs..get real
Yet another brave soul, who’s willing to criticize without having to do the job themselves. do you think they wear those vests and carry that equipment for fun??? If you don’t have anything intelligent to say or to offer an informed opinion on the subject best stay quiet and let the grown ups talk.
I am a brave soul, and the Police in our country are a joke and if you don’t think so you must be a cop, they wear that gear because the can just like they break all our rule…because they can
The silent commissioner speaks? how about doing your job and deploying the available resources to help get rid or reduce crime in our Country instaed of the usual lip service we get from every other Government department, the crime statistics do not look good during your watch and in particular gun crime and the Police seem to think if we dont talk about it its going to go away!
Offering money for information, is that the alternative to actual Police work? you really need to get your head out of the sand and look around you, one of the fundamental problems is there is no respect whatsoever for the Police in bermuda and for a few good reasons, they do not adhere to the rules that they are employed to enforce, parking, driving, and other less than Police like behaviour. You need to better train the officers we import and they need to realize that this is not Jamaica or another less developed country and 90% of the people here are law abiding citizens and at the very least deseve to be talked to properly, Unless your just waiting on a ministerial position to be offered you need to start leading and just like anyone else who has under preformed for an extended period you need to need to earn back the respect of the Bermuda public and that respect will go a long way to the involvement of the public in giving assistance.
It’s not as though they can make discoveries via osmosis. /someone/ knows who they are – but the island is too small. If you’re that person that knows something, there’s a good chance they know you know – so if the cops come knocking at their door and they get charged but never see the inside of a cell because of some discrepancies somewhere along the line, then who ever snitched is going to have some big problems – and not a lot of places to go.
Y-Gurl, “one of the fundamental problems” as you mentioned is that there is no respect for ANYONE or ANYTHING in Bermuda nowadays. THAT is the root of the problem fullstop.
Don’t agree at all, I deal with people all day everyday, sure things are strained more today than say 14 years ago but those people are not employed and paid to keep crime down and the police are and don’t , full stop .
“I’m glad to see that we’re making sure and steady progress bringing crime under control.”
“We are glad to say that when it comes to crime, we are standing strong for Bermudians by making Bermuda a safer place to live and raise a family.”
Jonathan Smith, PLP Senator and certified lame-ass jerk, August 2012.
I agree on your obsevation of Smith, looks like he knew what was going in the Brown era and was rewarded for his “service” by the PLP
Since the incident out woodys with the machine gun an arms race was started thnx to PsC.. Word has it it was more then jus ammo its some brand new machines out west too.. All the FA incidents this past week was all testing.. Its a war on the horizon..
@Chip Police red tape, and the political will to deal with the criminal elements are the problems here.
the police better get these a$holes before the regular joe blow comes through and starts blowing these little punks aways. the police know who has guns here and they need to find a way to get them. they need to be doing those early morning busting of houses when these fools are just getting in from doing their dirt. i say break down doors and everything wake their damm parents outta their sleep too. considering most of them know what their sons are doing but keep quite cause they are living the life by having money and other nice things. i feel they are just as guilty as their children if they know what they doing and not reporting them, but then they wanna be crying and $h!t when somebody kills their child. Karma is here though and the lord never sleeps, justice will be served one way or another. people are getting tired.
Agreed!!! There will come a time in the near future when the general public (tax paying citizens) will have to defend and protect their freedom and their country.
I have said it before and I will say it again,bring in a handful of private soldiers,similar to Soldier of Fortune type or French Forgein Legion they will get the job done as they have served in many of the world’s hell holes.
They have no allegiance to local friends and family and will stick they to the job they will be hired for.
Borrow this money add it to e current debt, it will be well worth it to have a safe Bermuda.
This will not be done as the local Gov is scratching for every little vote and thus will not want to upset anyone to get votes even it is the criminal vote.