Police Chief: ‘we can do a lot with a little, our numbers to date clearly illustrate that’

Commissioner of Police, Mr. C. G. Walwyn (Willet’s photo)

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, MARCH 28TH 2012 – The top cop of The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force says while in the greater world of public opinion, his law enforcement agency might appear minuscule in the great arena of narcotics interdiction, he is of the view attitude determines its altitude and have demonstrated that not only do “we believe that we can do a lot with a little, our numbers to date clearly illustrates that.”

Speaking at Tuesday’s opening ceremony the Pre-IDEC and 18th Annual Regional Drug Conference at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, Commissioner C. G. Walwyn noted a recent study among school students found that most of the students in the school did not view marijuana as a drug because they knew someone who sold it and who used it.

“The attitude was that if it was not they who were affected, it was no problem. That is a mindset that the agency and the community must work together to change,” said Mr. Walwyn.

Speaking of recent initiatives the Police Chief noted that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force have partnered in the fight against drug use and gang violence in the Federation.

“Sgt Sean McCormack has been sent to the Federation by Orange County Florida, Sheriff Jerry Demings at our request, to train police officers in a new programme that replaces the DARE programme. The objective is to give students from Kindergarten to Third Grade and students ages 10-13, the tools for making the right choices,” said Commissioner Walwyn.

“The belief is that if we embrace the children at an early age, the memberships in gangs and the potential for increased violence will decrease,” said Mr. Walwyn, who expressed thanks to Sheriff Demings for his assistance in the fight against gangs and drugs in the Federation.

“It is important that we include measures to help our children in the equation of reducing drug use and violence in the Federation,” he said.