By Glenroy Sinclair, Staff ReporterSEVERAL SUPERINTENDENTS of Police have been slapped with warning letters by Police Commissioner Francis Forbes, following what, he said, was their poor performance in managing their divisions.
Reports are that Deputy Commissioner Jevene Bent, who is in charge of Administration, was instructed to write to several of these commanding officers whose assessments for last year was adjudged to be far below average. Some of the officers who have not shown any sign of improvement, have been relieved of their posts.
"I took a decision this year, more than any other time during my tenure as Commissioner of Police, that this is the year for the highest standards of accountability by commanding officers, in keeping with our modernisation programme," Commissioner Forbes told The Gleaner.
According to Mr. Forbes, the warning letters would not go on the officers' files. Since taking over the reins of the Jamaica Constabulary Force on October 1, 1996, the Commissioner has stressed continually that he has never transferred any officer because of any personal feelings.
He said officers are transferred because of several reasons, which include: to fill vacancies; to expose persons for the purpose of gaining experience; for welfare purposes; to facilitate internal investigations; to prevent participation in or facilitation of crime and corruption while investigations are in progress; for breaches of internal disciplinary code; breaches of policy critical to the proper day-to-day management and supervision of the JCFF.
Responding to questions about the list of officers recently transferred to the Inspection Branch, (dubbed the "Never, Never Land"), 12 Ocean Boulevard on the downtown Kingston waterfront, Commissioner Forbes said they were not sent there as punishment. He declined to comment on whether any of the officers was being investigated.
OFFICERS TRANSFERRED
Among officers recently transferred to the Inspection Branch, are: Senior Superinten-dent Dudley Bryan, Superinten-dents Kenneth Wade, Harry Daley, Clover-Malcolm Bogle, Claude Samuels, Glenford Hudson, and Artice Brown-Getton.
SP Samuels has since opted for early retirement, while Mrs. Brown-Getton goes on pre-retirement leave within a few weeks.
Commenting on the issuing of firearm licences, Commissioner Forbes said he would continue to take action against those officers engaged in corrupting the system.
"Only yesterday (Wednesday) a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice in this regard. I am anxiously awaiting the implementation of the new system," Commissioner Forbes said.
Senior Supt. Leon Rose, chairman of the Police Officers' Association, said that while the POA wholeheartedly supported the Commissioner, it had to ensure that there was fairness and transparency in how the process of achieving the objectives of the police force was administered.
He said that the Commissioner had to ensure through the various processes and strategies that his objectives were achieved.
"If they are not achieved then whatever action is to be taken will be taken. The POA is in full support of his tenureship and believes that any perceived failure as a poll would wish to project, cannot be objective if it is not inconsistent with its own sample," he said.
SSP Rose stressed that the recent poll would not support the view that the Commissioner of Police had a failing grade.
"The POA is fully aware of its responsibilities to its members and will properly represent their interests whenever the neccessity arises," SSP Rose told The Gleaner.
