Police involved shootings are up 37.5 percent for the second quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of this year, according to an examination of daily crime reports by The Nassau Guardian.
However, despite the marked increase in the last three months, Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade said he does not think there is a problem.
Three suspects were shot in February; two in March; one in April; three in May; and four in June. Three suspects have been shot by police so far this month.
Of the 16 suspects shot by police so far this year in 15 separate incidents, five of them were killed. Four of those killings happened in the second quarter.
Greenslade told The Guardian that anyone who points a gun in the direction of a police officer or attempts to take on an officer, will be shot “without hesitation”.
“Look at the number of weapons we have taken off the streets to date; 318 and well over 5,000 rounds of ammunition. If you just juxtapose the number of police-related shootings against that, it is insignificant.
Residents from a cross-section of New Providence shared mixed views on the professionalism of police when interviewed by The Nassau Guardian this week.
Quinton Lightbourne, 26, said he thinks police officers are making the right judgment calls when facing dangerous and armed suspects.
However, the Carmichael Road resident said that without knowing all the facts, it would be difficult for anyone to determine if police are being too aggressive in the field.
Florence Brown, of John Road in Bains Town and Grants Town, agreed that police officers were doing just what needs to be done in the fight against crime.
The latest reported police involved shooting occurred on July 13 when a suspect attempted to evade police after a high speed chase that ended on Florida Court.
According to Superintendent Philip Don Wilson, officer in charge of the Grove Police Station, the driver exited the car and brandished a handgun.
The suspect was shot by police before he managed to fire his weapon. Residents in the area expressed outrage about the incident, claiming that the police officers operated unprofessionally, and opened fire without regard for the young children in the area.
