From left: Francis Forbes and Reneto AdamsA MAJOR reshuffle of senior police officers, which became public yesterday, has been linked to the latest efforts of the security forces to tackle soaring crime levels which have resulted in 875 murder so far this year.
Reports yesterday revealed a shake-up among top officers in the Corporate Area; a planned transfer of the 12 members of the 25-member Crime Management Unit (CMU) who staged a sickout on Wednesday; and the merging of the CMU into the Mobile Reserve under Assistant Commissioner Arthur "Stitch" Martin, who was formerly in charge of Area Four, which comprises most of the Corporate Area, the largest crime area in the island.
Commissioner of Police, Francis Forbes, said yesterday that the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) report had recommended bringing these specialist units under one umbrella. Mobile Reserve was identified as the appropriate umbrella, "and so we are going to now start that process by rearranging CMU, rearranging Special Anti-Crime and, in the initial stage, to have them report directly to the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Mobile Reserve."
The moves also come a few days after Prime Minister P.J. Patterson assured the country's business sector of "strong, new measures to fight the unprecedented levels of violence plaguing the country".
Under the new arrangements, Senior Supt. Reneto Adams, who formerly reported directly to the Commissioner, will now report to ACP Martin, who will be returned to the command of the Mobile Reserve, the police paramilitary combat unit, from his post in charge of Area Four.
The 12 members of the CMU staged a sickout on Wednesday reportedly in protest over the "management style" of their commander, SSP Adams. But, SSP Adams said he was trying to deal with reports of corruption within the squad. The Commissioner said he too had been informed of allegations of bribery within the squad. However, Mr. Forbes said the men were guilty of indiscipline and were being transferred because they had breached established "grievance procedures" in the JCF.
Meanwhile Gleaner sources report that among the other senior officers transferred were Assistant Commissioner Lebert Lawrence who will move from Mobile Reserve to take charge of Area 4. Senior Superintendent Granville Gause has been tipped to replace Senior Superintendent Tony Hewitt, the Metro Crime Officer at the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), who is now on pre-retirement leave.
Superintendent Artice Brown-Getton has been recalled from her post at the Rape Unit to head the Kingston East Division. Superintendent Leon Rose, now in Kingston East, will go to St. Andrew Central to replace Superintendent Rosie McDonald-Barker, who has been transferred to the Police Academy.
Assistant Commissioner Alrick Leck is set to take over Corporate Strategy while Senior Superintendent Keith "Trinity" Gardner is to take command of Area 5 (parts of St. Andrew and St. Catherine), while Superintendent Harry Daley will be the new chief in West Kingston. Deputy Superintendent Delroy Hewitt will bid farewell to Kingston West and take up a new post in St. Thomas.
