Taking Back Our Communities – Building From The Inside Out
Residents of Denham Town in the Kingston Western Division are being empowered to reclaim and strengthen their community through a range of initiatives led by police personnel assigned to the Denham Town Zone of Special Operations (ZOSO), in collaboration with other stakeholders.
The Denham Town community has long battled with crime and violence which stem from gangs and other organised crime syndicates operating within the area. The ZOSO has been a fix within the community for some time, serving as a crime prevention strategy and a buffer between the residents and the criminals who seek to operate within the space. Over the past two years, the community has seen a marked reduction in murders, with 2025 ending with a 60% reduction – six less than the ten that were recorded the previous year.
This year, Inspector Norman Cox, who is the sub-officer in charge of the Denham Town ZOSO, was seeking to improve upon the gains of last year when tragedy struck. On Saturday, February 21, three-year-old Jayce Pinnock and his father 31-year-old Kerrio Pinnock were tragically murdered within the community. Following this horrendous crime, Inspector Cox and team doubled down on their efforts to strengthen the partnership with the community to maintain peace and sustain the development within the community.
We had a sad incident of the killing of a little baby along with his father. As a result of that, the partnership went into force… We have look[ed] at how can we make Denham Town safe using the ten principles of crime prevention… Therefore, we are moving to remove gang space[s], occupying gang spaces and allowing partnerships to build out…” said Cox.
Inspector Cox speaking to community members and Stakeholders
The first phase of their intervention began with improving surveillance within the community by trimming overgrown trees and installing lights across the community. This was achieved through the partnership with the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) along with support from Member of Parliament (MP) the Honourable Desmond McKenzie and councillor Dellon Gayle.
The police are now partnering with residents in an attempt to revitalise the community and give back control to its members. One way they have been doing this is through the use of the community park to host events that foster better community relations. Thus far, the Zone of Special Operations has organised the Fun in the Park – Kiddies Treat and the Fun in the Park – Gospel Concert, held on Sunday, April 12 and Sunday, May 03, respectively.
“This zone is about building the community from inside out. It’s police and citizens coming together, working together, to build a partnership on trust, that is built on cooperation, that is built on improving the standard within the community…” said Inspector Cox.
With the backing of the Zones of Special Operations and, by extension, the Jamaica Constabulary Force and its stakeholders, the residents of Denham Town are working to reposition their community as a model within Jamaica—a community that is safe and confident.
