New Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva swore to take back the community one street at a time and promised to empty Prospect offices so every officer could assist.

At his swearing-in ceremony yesterday, Mr. DeSilva said: "This morning I gave an order that every last available man and woman in our service will be placed on operational patrols throughout the New Year.

"They will empty the offices at Prospect to give some added reassurance to the public and some much needed relief to our front-line officers. We will take back our community one house at a time, one street at a time, one neighbourhood at a time."

His promise came after a triple shooting in 12 hours. At 10.30 Tuesday night Gary "Fingaz" Cann was fatally gunned down.

A 25-year-old Southampton man was shot in the hand outside the Warwick bowling alley around 1.30 yesterday morning. The third shooting happened on Court Street yesterday at 10.30 a.m. No one was injured.

Mr. DeSilva continued: "We will take the guns off the streets and we will restore peace. And we are not alone in this fight. The Bermuda community is speaking out against gang violence and carnage that is threatening our own, and the collective voice is loud and clear.

"Bermuda is saying we have had enough and we are committed to a change."

The Commissioner reiterated that pledge at a later press conference: "The top priority for the Bermuda Police Service remains catching and convicting the persons responsible and reducing the violence. Gun violence in Bermuda has resulted in 16 people being injured so far this year, tragically three of them suffering fatal wounds. There were a large number of potential witnesses in and around Court Street this morning who might have information that will be valuable to investigators.

"Anyone who witnessed that incident is encouraged to contact

"Police as well as anyone who saw two men dressed in dark clothing approaching or leaving the area on a motorcycle at 10.30 this morning.

"There is already a significant Police presence in these neighbourhoods and others where there is a potential for inter-gang violence.

"In addition, Police have specialist officers from the Serious Crime Unit, Forensic Support Unit and Community Action Teams assisting with the active investigations into the fatal shooting as well as the two other shooting incidents."

Mr. DeSilva paid special tribute to the officers currently investigating the shootings: "These are the men and women that deliver the service directly to the public.

"These are the officers that come to work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and Police the streets. No matter what the dangers are and who is the acting commissioner they work hard to keep us safe, without them my efforts wouldn't mean much at all."

Mr. DeSilva became the fourth Bermuda-born Police Commissioner yesterday, taking the reins from George Jackson, originally from St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The newly appointed Commissioner spoke of the "reckless" violence affecting the Island.

"Policing is serious business," he said. "And Bermuda is experiencing serious problems.

"This (change of command) ceremony today is overshadowed by the tragic events of last night that have flooded over into this morning. All of which are plastered against the backdrop of recent violence still reverberating within the community.

"Violent, reckless and senseless acts, being committed by so few, are having sweeping and devastating effects on so many. The Police service is tackling this challenge head on. In October we restructured the organisation to place 85 percent of our staff directly in the fight against crime."

In the Senate yesterday Public Safety Minister David Burch backed down on a long demand for government to control policing and declared his support for Mr. DeSilva.

He told Mr. DeSilva at the swearing-in ceremony: "You assume command at a most challenging time not just for the Service but for all of us in this Country.

"I can again publicly confirm that I have never felt more optimistic about the Bermuda Police Service plans for addressing the challenges we face. At the risk of being accused of lying I can confirm that Government, Government House and the Ministry are all on the same page and we fully support both the actions of the Bermuda Police Service to date and those to come.

"Our discussions thus far have been positive and beneficial to both parties. I look forward to strengthening this working relationship as we go to work within our communities to address and resolve the significant challenges we currently face."

Premier Ewart Brown refused to discuss the triple shootings but said: "I listened carefully to Mr. DeSilva's comments and it appears to me he is determined to uproot and eradicate this scourge and he will get full support of the Government."