But, for all the hard talk and hype - we can say that life in zone #1 was cool and calm today. Out studio is a block away from the eastern boundary of that zone and we drove through multiple times today - and detected no heightened police presence - and life flowed along as normal, businesses were open and residents were going about their business unhindered.

Jules Vasquez tells us what he saw on the streets today - and he outlines exactly what areas are classified as special emergency zones:..

Today, the junction of West and King Streets was calm as compared to yesterday when masked soldiers guarded this same corner. We only saw one police pickup on patrol in this so called "Public Emergency Zone". This zone #1 has its north-western border here at the junction of East Collet Canal into Cemetery Road

From there it runs straight down to Orange Street, where it has its northeast boundary at the corner with West Canal.

From there the boundary for this zone runs all along West Canal to the southeast boundary at Racecourse Street Bridge and it runs along Racecourse Street to its southwest boundary at Racecourse and East Collet Canal - which again runs all the way up to Pound yard bridge to complete this zone #1 - which Police believe encompasses the zone of influence of the George Street Gang.

Zone #2 starts here at South Creek at its junction with Dolphin and Fairweather - that's the south-eastern boundary. This runs all the way up Dolphin across to Magazine Road and unto Vernon Street - which is the north-eastern boundary. It goes west on Vernon Street to its junction with Central American Boulevard - which forms the north-western boundary.

And it goes all along Central American Boulevard towards South Creek, for the southwestern boundary. This then runs the length of South Creek to make up Zone #2 - which police see as the zone of influence for the Banak Street Gang.

DCP Chester Williams - AG. Commissioner
"Banak area and the George Street are the two areas of concern at this time and so those are the two areas that are captured in the proclamation of a state of emergency on the Southside."

An unprecedented state of emergency that is a long ways off from the Community Policing talk that Chester Williams came to the city with in 2015:

Chester Williams (2015)
"The police will be doing more outreach to the community. This is part of our community orienting policing. Where we will go out, meet the public, greet the public, talk to them, see what their concerns are. Take advice from them. If there is anything they believe the police can do better. So we want to see how best we can communicate with the people in the area to help them alleviate their fear of crime."

But now the time for communication is done:

DCP Chester Williams
"Now some might say that we are really being heavy handed but the truth of the matter is I'm sure you all will agree that we have also talked enough with them and we need to be able to make them understand that the time for talking is done."

And those who were once just a family fun day away from redemption…

Chester Williams (2015)
"Let's give these people a chance, let's give them the opportunity to try and make that change. If we have them out there shooting at each other, yes some might say, they'll eventually eradicate themselves; that will never happen. So the best we can do is to see how best we can help them make that change for those who want to make the change."

Three years later, that cheery optimism had been exchanged for a hardened cynicism:

DCP Chester Williams
"This is not a vigilante of jungle justice we have a legal system that is there for all and we expect that all will comply. When you join a gang knowing that you will not live long - you will be killed by you rivals."

Williams will be Acting Commissioner until tomorrow, when Commissioner Allen Whylie returns to the country.