We had hoped his recent denial that he would take up a job in Bermuda meant Hardley Lewin was in for the long haul as Jamaica's commissioner of police.

Unfortunately, after only two years as police chief, Rear Admiral Lewin, a former chief of staff of the Jamaica Defence Force, has stepped down. While the specific trigger for the decision has not been disclosed, it is widely known that he lacked the support of many members, including senior officers of the constabulary. Perhaps more critical, he did not feel he had the backing of those who really mattered in the political directorate.

And that is unfortunate. For whatever may be claimed about the rear admiral's management style - that he is brusque and aloof - the bald fact is that he was good for the Jamaican police force, which is badly corroded and in need of major reconstruction.

Major problem

Of course, Jamaica has a major problem of crime and criminal violence, which is exemplified by the over 1,600 murders annually, exclusive of nearly 200 police homicides. The Jamaican police work in a difficult environment performing a hard job, made more onerous by the residual links between criminality and the country's political process. Indeed, it was a bit over a fortnight ago that in a frank assessment of Jamaica and its political culture, Rear Admiral Lewin called for a full break in the lingering relations.

But, as we alluded to, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has not made it easy for itself in fighting crime. It long ago lost the trust of the Jamaican people, which it is finding hard to rebuild.

There are two main causes for this. The JCF was created as a paramilitary organisation and has failed for more than nearly a century and half to transform itself into an institution in which coercive power is of limited use and is secondary to the kind of legitimacy that is derived largely from public trust. There has to be a willingness on the part of the citizenry to be policed.

Jack-booted approach

This jack-booted approach to policing might have worked if there was a sense that the institution and its members were unbendingly honest. That, however, is not the case. The JCF is deeply corrupt. Which is why the rear admiral was good for the force.

His was a strong personality of unbending integrity and aggression against corruption. He not only spoken of the need to rid the JCF of the bad eggs but, vigorously, and against the odds, internally and externally, sought to do something about it. Moreover, he insisted that members of the JCF respect people's human rights and fought hard to rid the police force of its image of the arbitrary use of force and extra-judicial killings.

Rear Admiral Lewin's efforts had not yet translated into lower crime figures, but he was clearly headed in the right direction which, hopefully, will not be derailed. That is why, those who are entrusted with choosing a successor must be careful in the decision.

His replacement must be capable of not only saying the right things nicely, but be of impeccable integrity, must eschew corruption, and be willing to take the high road in making the hard decisions, no matter the personal consequences. If we get this decision wrong, Jamaica will pay dearly for a long time.

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