THE EDITOR, Sir:

As The Police Service Commission (PSC) prepares for the difficult task of appointing another commissioner of police it needs to be aware of two important truths.

First, the country cannot afford another non-performing commissioner of police; and second, if it appoints another failed commissioner, it - the PSC - must be prepared to share the responsibility for some of that failure.

It would have already dawned on the PSC that if the next commissioner of police fails to reduce crime, particularly murder, by anything under 30-25 per cent, it would be tantamount to the country telling the criminal underworld that we are unable to solve the crime problem, and that we are at their mercy so we are asking them to take it easy with us.

The right person

It is against that background that I would plead with the PSC to make sure that this time around they get it right, that the person they appoint is the right person for the job, and not one whose preoccupation is with profiling.

Already, elements in the JCF and elsewhere are declaring their support for Owen Ellington to be the next commissioner. My question to these persons is: what is it that he can bring to this job? Let the country hear what some of his achievements are. Surely, he has been in the force long enough to have got the opportunity to contribute to some of its strategic planning and policy direction.

For me, it is a bit strange that after being in charge of crime for such a long time, Mr Ellington is just now discovering his ability to craft strategies capable of reducing crime, especially murder.

What can he bring to the job of commissioner that he was not able to over these many years?

I am, etc.,

CASHLEY BROWN

cashleybrown.

investorschoice@cwjamaica.com