By Glenroy Sinclair,
Staff Reporter
POLICE COMMISSIONER Francis Forbes has transferred more than 100 police personnel to various divisions throughout the island in a big administrative shake-up. The list includes several senior officers.
Among those transferred are 67 detectives, 17 of whom have been stripped of their detective status, 54 uniformed policemen and policewomen and 15 senior officers, for a total of 136.
The Jamaica Constabulary's policy on transfer states that one can be transferred on the grounds of national interest, on promotion, on request of the individual or emergency (temporary) transfers to facilitate sensitive investigation.
It is reported that some of the detectives who have been put back in uniform were deemed "non-performers". But according to a Police Federation spokesman, most of those reverted to uniform "had asked for it".
It is reported that several detectives had been complaining about the long hours they work, testifying in court and investigating various crimes, compared with their uniformed colleagues who do regular eight-hour shifts.
"The only difference between us and the uniformed personnel is that we get $1,700 to $2,000 more on our pay for allowances," said a group of detectives, citing what they described as "a meagre figure".
In March 1998 Commissioner Forbes had said that non- performers in the Criminal Investigation Branch would be weeded out to make way for those capable of doing a better job.
"There will be no room for non-performers", he said then as he was selecting 100 police personnel to be transferred to the CIB.
In December 1998 the Commissioner said he was not happy with the investigative capability and management style at the senior level. A reason he cited was that too many cases were being thrown out of court because of the lack of proper investigation. "That must be corrected," Commissioner Forbes said then.
Commissioner Forbes could not be reached for comment yesterday on the reasons for the massive transfers.
