Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
( left ) HYLTON: 'Close to beginning interviews' ( right ) SCOTT: 'Infrusion of outside talent'
THE POLICE Service Commission (PSC) will this week begin interviewing overseas-based candidates for four assistant commissioner positions within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), The Gleaner has learnt. The positions for which a deadline of Friday, August 19 has been set are not open to serving JCF officers.
The posts are in the following areas: homicide and serious crime investigation; professional standards and anti-corruption investigation; operations and firearms; and community policing and crime disorder partnerships.
"We are very close to interviewing several candidates, in Jamaica, which is very encouraging considering the deadline is still a month away," said chairman of the PSC, Noel Hylton. At least 15 overseas-based policemen have applied so far.
The advertisements were placed in four policing magazines: Jane's Police Review in the United Kingdom; U.S. Police Magazine; Tour of Duty Magazine in Canada; and Police Association Magazine in Australia.
Announced last October, the strategy to recruit foreign officers is partly funded by a cooperation agreement with the U.K. Gilbert Scott, Permanent Secretary in Ministry of National Security, had called the recruitment campaign an "infusion of a body of outside talent (which) will help to accelerate modernisation."
The recruitment strategy has so far resulted in the recruitment of Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields, who began serving in March.
The Police Officers Association (POA), however, had shown some resistance to the advertisements, expressing its concerns in a letter to National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips last month.
Speaking to The Gleaner earlier this month though, POA Chairman Leon Rose denied that officers opposed the recruitment of foreign officers.
"We have consistently said we do not oppose the introduction of foreign expertise to critical levels within the force." But he argued that consultation on the matter with existing officers had been insufficient and created "tension, cynicism and suspicion among the ranks."
Further comment from the POA, he added, yesterday, would come only after the minister's response.
