By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
Supt. Claude Samuels has been transferred to the Inspection Branch, which has been sarcastically dubbed the 'Never Never Division' and is regarded as a 'parking lot' for officers in limbo.
A SHAKE-UP in the officer corps of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has seen at least seven officers transferred from their divisions, while others who had been second in command, have moved up.
Among the officers transferred are: Senior Supt. Owen Ellington, who moves from Police Traffic Headquarters to Area Four Headquarters, the island's largest crime area; Supt. Ealan Powell, from the Marine Division to Traffic Headquarters; Supt. Newton Amos, from St. James to St. Andrew South;
Supt. Clover Malcolm-Bogle, from St. Thomas to the Bureau of Women's Affairs; Supt. Claude Samuels, from St. Andrew South, and Supt. Harry Daley, from Kingston Western, to the Inspection Branch, and Supt. Devon Watkis from the Financial Crimes Unit, to Criminal Investigation Branch Headquarters, Kingston.
SOME DISCONTENT
There are reports that some of the officers involved are unhappy at the transfers.
Police Commissioner Francis Forbes and his deputies were unavailable for comment, but Supt. Ionie Ramsay-Nelson, head of the Constabulary Communi-cation Network (CCN), said the Police High Command's decision came after a review and should not be questioned.
"Any day any one of us reaches the stage to question the authority of the Commissioner to transfer us, then it is time for us to go home. It is a standard thing for the Commissioner to transfer persons to wherever he sees fit," Supt. Ramsay-Nelson said.
Commenting on the transfers, Derrick Smith, the Jamaica Labour Party's Spokesman on Natio-nal Security, said it was the prerogative of the Police Commis-sioner to effect transfers periodically as he sees fit.
"It is a good idea to shift around divisional officers for many reasons," he said.
SSP Ellington is to replace Assistant Com-missioner Keith Gard-ner, who will be going off on study leave. But indications are that SSP Ellington will be at Area Four Headquarters, West Street, on the downtown Kingston waterfront, for less than three months.
FAMILIARISATION PERIOD
Responding to questions yesterday about his plans to police the tough inner-city communities in Area Four, SSP Ellington said he would have to familiarise himself with the area before making any comment.
"I was told that I will be going there just for only 70 days," he told The Gleaner.
Supt. Ealan Powell will take over command at the Traffic Division, Elletson Road, east Kingston. Among his immediate plans is a revamping of the image of the traffic police, instituting regular seminars and workshops focusing on corruption, and sting operations to apprehend police personnel who are involved in acts of corruption.
Supt. Newton Amos says he welcomes the Commissioner's move to transfer him back to the St. Andrew South Division.
He will be taking over command from Supt. Claude Samuels, who has been transferred to the Inspection Branch, which has been sarcastically dubbed the 'Never Never Division' by members of the Force.
Supt. Samuels said he was not disgruntled with the Commissioner's decision, but wanted to clear the air and make it known that his transfer was not linked to the questionable circumstances under which dancehall deejay Vybz Kartel was issued with a firearm permit.
Supt. Harry Daley of the Kingston Western Division has been transferred again to the Inspection Branch. He was unavailable for comment yesterday. Deputy Supt. Gary Griffiths is to head the Western Kingston Division.
Supt. Clover Malcolm-Bogle is to be transferred to the newly-created division, the Bureau of Women's Affairs. She said she was unsure what her new job would require.
Deputy Supt. Michael James, a former chairman of the Police Federation, will take command of the St. Thomas Division.
