Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer
An elated Reneto Adams (centre) talks to journalists outside the Supreme Court after he and two other policemen received a not guilty verdict in the Kraal trial. - Rudolph Brown Photo
Three months ago, while awaiting the start of the Kraal trial, Senior Superintendent of Police, Reneto Adams, spoke at length with Earl Moxam about his career and some of the controversies that have dogged his career. The setting for the interview was Treasure Beach, close to the controversial cop's birthplace of Little Park in South St. Elizabeth..
Earl Moxam: We were both at a funeral service earlier today, in which you paid tribute to the deceased, a pastor whom you said was greatly influential in your early days, while growing up in the church (Adams was once a Sunday school teacher at Treasure Beach Pentecostal Church of God). Many people might be wondering how to marry the image of this nice country boy with someone who is now regarded by some as a cold blooded killer?
Reneto Adams: I was even baptized in the church and remain a believer in the Christian faith. Only that I have revolutionised my whole philosophy and Christianity. For example, when I was 12 years old, I was expelled from school (Pedro Plains Primary) for saying that Jesus Christ was a black man
I'm not an avenging angel. I'm a defender. I defend myself and, by extension, the Jamaican people from criminal elements ... But really you may not have heard of the other side of me, which is quiet, passive and friendly and docile.
I love people, and there are not many funerals taking place here (South St. Elizabeth) that I do not attend ... not many social events that I do not take part in or people who I do not share a hug and a smile with. But when you are in a particular environment, like the Romans say, when you are in Rome you have to behave as the Romans.
So, with Jamaica's criminal elements, you have to behave a particular way that will repel them and many of them only know the final aspect of the law, which is to take strong, positive and decisive action.
EM: But you are not saying though that you, as the law officer, must perform the roles of judge, jury and executioner?
RA: One of the problems we have in Jamaica is that people who are supposed to be taking decisive, strong, firm action within the constitution and the law in keeping with their moral obligation are not doing so. They are just filling these spaces and, in a laissez-faire attitude, do nothing.
I'm not saying that I'm the judge, jury and executioner. Not at all! I believe in the rule of the law. I believe in justice. I believe in a fair trial.
I tell you something, when we go out and a man is killed, he's not punished for whatever crime he might have committed. I would like to see a justice system where people are tried and firmly dealt with, sent to prison, and if they are to be hanged, they are hanged.
EM: How do you reconcile this philosophy and approach which you are outlining to me with what happened in a number of instances? What has come out of these incidents, certainly in the minds of many people, is that you led your forces in circumstances in which they did not act properly and in keeping with the rule of law, which you speak of so passionately.
RA: Reneto Adams has become very controversial with these issues, many of which have been visited upon me due to the fact that I am a police officer who do not sit by his desk, knowing that something is happening on the street and is not willing to take some decisive action.
While sitting here on this veranda with you here now, and if I were on frontline duty, and I heard on the control radio that something was happening in Calabash Bay, I would not have to wait on my superiors to send me. I volunteer and go forward.
There are many others who will have to be sent along. There are many of us who hide from confrontation. There are many of us who are afraid of politicians, journalists and many other things. Reneto Adams is the man who is paid by the public to deal with issues, so therefore I have a ratio of doing 10 times more than some other members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. So, therefore, I will have 10 times more success or problems.
TO BE CONTINUED
