By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterTHE TOP brass of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and members of the Canadian High Commission will this afternoon extend a warm welcome to Toronto's Police Chief, Julian Fantino, on his arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport.
Mr. Fantino is visiting to discuss crime-fighting and drug trafficking issues
with key officers of the local Police Force and the Ministry of National Security.
Canada is seeking to establish closer working relations with Jamaica as both
countries intensify their efforts to deal with law enforcement challenges.
The police chief is expected to arrive at 2:35 p.m. for a four-day visit and will give a press conference to local and international journalists at the airport.
On Tuesday morning, Mr. Fantino will meet with Canadian High Commissioner John Robin-son before seeing Police Commissioner Francis Forbes, members of the Police High Command and other senior managers of the local Police Force.
Mr. Fantino will then move on to Up Park Camp where he will talk with Rear Admiral Hartley Lewin before holding discussions with National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, and Ministry officials.
Following a private luncheon at the residence of the Canadian High Commissioner, the Toronto top cop will tour the JCF's Forensic Laboratory on Hope Road before meeting with British High Commissioner, Peter Mather, and United States Ambassador Sue Cobb.
His first engagement on Wednesday will be a short tour of the Hannah Town and Payne Avenue communities where the security forces have placed special focus,
as part of a recently-implemented anti-crime initiative.
His tight schedule for the rest of the day includes a 'fly-over' of the island, courtesy of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), a private lunch hosted by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), followed by a press conference at the Police Officers Club.
Commissioner Forbes will again hold private talks with Mr. Fantino on Thursday before his departure.
Prior to taking up the top job in the Toronto Police Service, Mr. Fantino served as a security guard in New York and since joining the police service, he served as a beat patrol officer and later worked undercover in the areas of narcotics and homicide investigations. After 23 years in the Toronto Police Services, he was promoted to Chief Superintendent. He resigned in 1991 to take up a job offer as Chief of Police for the London Metro Service, then after seven years he returned to Toronto as the police chief.
The Toronto Police Service employs over 5,000 officers and more than 2,000 civilians. It has one of largest municipal police services in North America.
