Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
POLICE COMMISSIONER Lucius Thomas has imposed a new strategy aimed at arresting corrupt members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) less than 24 hours after a report has been made against them.
"We have fast-tracked our investigation against members who are involved in acts of corruption. Once a report is made, we are going to investigate immediately and arrest them," Commissioner Thomas told The Gleaner.
In his first address as commissioner of police on February 4, Mr. Thomas told journalists that the Professional Services Branch (PSB) will play a key role in the implementation of the anti-corruption strategy.
Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, a senior officer at the PSB disclosed that since January they have received eight reported cases of alleged corruption involving members of the JCF.
The officer said the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Kent Pantry, has ruled in one of the cases that the policeman in question must be charged. In addition, three constables were held recently during a sting operation in Montego Bay, St. James. Last week they were taken to court and charged for accepting $4,720 from a motorist who wanted to avoid prosecution.
Commenting on the review of the backlog of case files concerning disciplinary proceedings in the JCF, Commissioner Thomas said he is in the process of eliminating some of the files because of none appearance of witnesses.
"These are cases in which members were charged departmentally," said the commissioner.
Approximately 40 files were reviewed by Assistant Com
missioner Keith Gardner who was mandated to accelerate the review.
