RENETO ADAMS, the tough-talking Senior Superintendent of Police, will no longer be seen, armed with an M-16 rifle and leading a squad of policemen through inner-city communities.
Police Commissioner Francis Forbes yesterday disclosed that the controversial officer has been removed from operational duties on the streets and will now be mostly involved in the dissemination of information to the respective intelligence agencies.
"He will no longer be seen in the community with a gun leading a team," said Commissioner Forbes, at a press conference called to, among other things, explain the reasons for scrapping the controversial Crime Management Unit (CMU) formerly headed by SSP Adams.
The Commissioner also confirmed The Gleaner's lead story yesterday that members of the CMU have been transferred to the Mobile Reserve unit.
SSP Adams was yesterday appointed co-ordinator of the National Anti-Crime Initiative and
To provide info for intelligence agencies
will assume his newly-created post on June 9, at the Mobile Reserve unit, Kingston.
Among his new responsibilities are:
To monitor deployments, islandwide, involving raids, roadblocks, spot checks.
Patrol and collate outcomes, receive calls for assistance to divisions.
Organise the approved resource deployment, channel information and intelligence on criminal activities, including gangs/dons, extortion and car-jackings.
SSP Adams will also provide monthly feedback on area crime plans and their outputs, in addition to pursuing any other assignments as requested by his immediate boss, Assistant Commissioner Arthur 'Stitch' Martin.
The removal of SSP Adams and the disbanding of CMU followed much public outcry from human rights activists and the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party, especially after the controversial shootings in Kraal, Clarendon, on May 7, in which two women and two men were killed in a reported shoot-out with the police.
In defence of his decision, Commissioner Forbes said he did not "bow" to any pressure from any of the entities. He said the CMU had been around since September 2000 and had done its time.
"We are modernising and reforming the Police Force and I have not bowed under any pressure," emphasised Com-missioner Forbes.
