Superintendents Newton Amos (centre) greets his long-time friend, Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight, while Michael James smiles. They were among 36 senior officers summoned to Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas' Old Hope Road office yesterday, where the commissioner announced the mass transfers. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator - News

Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas has reassigned 36 senior members of the officer corps of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), in a major shake-up designed to tackle escalating crime which is threatening to reverse gains made by the police last year.

Some seasoned crimefighters have been strategically placed in high-crime zones or 'hot spots' across the country.

Among those transferred is newly promoted Superintendent Steve McGreggor, who has been shifted from St. Thomas to the hotbed of St. James, the parish with thehighest homicide rate since January.

Of the 213 persons killed since the start of the year, 31 of the victims were murdered in St. James.

Winner of the LASCO Top Cop award in 2000, Supt. McGreggor, a former Kingston College student, is of a community policing background.

"I consider this to be a special assignment and I am going there to offer inspired leadership and hoping to have an excellent relationship with the citizens," he told The Gleaner yesterday. He will be assisted by Deputy Superintendents Meveral Smith and Rainford Hardy.

Low profile

DSP Smith, who was given the task to calm the volatile Spanish Town area of St. Catherine, has been rated as one of the most successful crime fighters in the country, but one who has generally kept a low profile. He is the first officer to gain a conviction under the Asset and Forfeiture Act.

"I am not going there to create any enemies; I am going there to help the people, make it a safer place for them to live. The people can call me at 538-5760, because we need to talk," said DSP Smith, who will be the division's crime officer.

The parish officer is DSP Rainford Hardy, who Commissioner Thomas has described as an "excellent worker".

In the meantime, head of the St. James Division, Supt. Warren Clarke, has been moved to the Area 4 Headquarters in downtown Kingston. His crime officer, DSP Mickey Scott has been transferred to the Kingston West Division, while the area's operation officer, John Morris, was sent to Area 2 Headquarters in St. Mary.

Another member of the St. James management team, DSP Rudolph Taylor, will join the staff at Mobile Reserve, Kingston.

Another major transfer was that of Supt. Newton Amos, who has been moved from the St. Andrew South Division to the Area 5 Headquarters. He has been replaced by Supt. Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight.

Police alone cannot do it

"The police alone cannot do the job. I am looking forward to a partnership with the citizens and for us to work together," said Supt. Knight, who will be handing over command to newly promoted Supt. Radcliff Lewis.

DSP Derrick Champagnie was transferred from the Kingston Central CIB to St. Catherine North; Supt. Martin Baylis from St. Andrew Central to Manchester and former Police Federation Chairman, Supt. Michael James, from the Manchester division to Mobile Reserve.

DSP Patrick Murdock, a former traffic cop, has been transferred from St. Catherine North to Clarendon, while Supt. Maurice Robinson will take over command of the Westmoreland division.