Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

With at least 24 applications in its possession, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has given the assurance that it will be transparent in the appointment of the next commissioner of police.

Reports are that all the deputy commissioners have applied. Two prominent assistant commissioners are also on the list of applicants, followed by a veteran of the Criminal Investigations Bureau. Several other senior officers, including the controversial Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams, have submitted applications.

"They (the PSC) promised that every applicant will be dealt with fairly," president of the Police Officers Association (POA), Superintendent Norman Heywood, told The Gleaner yesterday.

delicate stage

Members of the POA met with the PSC on Thursday for more than an hour discussing issues relating to the appointment of the new police commissioner.

"The meeting was fruitful, but things are at a delicate stage and I cannot say much now. But we are still sticking to our words that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has qualified and competent persons and we believe that the next commissioner should come from within the JCF," Supt. Heywood reiterated.

And the Police Federation, in a release issued yesterday, said it remains concerned about the process being undertaken by the PSC to select the next commissioner of police. It said, however, that it was heartened by the number of qualified senior officers who had applied for the job.

mid-November for appointment

Deputy Commissioner Jevene Bent is now the Acting Police Chief and according to a senior government source, the new commissioner will not be appointed until about mid-November, in time for the holding of the Local Government elections. The man who is tipped for the job is retired army chief, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin.

In the meantime, National Security Minister, Derrick Smith, has promised that when appointed, the new police commissioner will have some say in making decisions as it relates to disciplinary matters in the JCF. Mr. Thomas had often complained that he was powerless to take action against corrupt cops.

Mr. Smith, who was speaking at a farewell luncheon for Commissioner Thomas, stressed that apart from the new commissioner getting the sort of leverage to manage the force and have a say in instilling discipline, the head of the JCF will also get the majority of the tools and equipment needed to effectively fight crime.

glenroy.sinclair@gleanerjm.com