A POLICEMAN who was dismissed from the force in December last year after being on suspension for 16 years is seeking an order from the Supreme Court to have the dismissal order set aside.
Steve McKenzie, the former policeman, claims that he joined the force in 1980 and in 1988 he was suspended after he was charged with larceny by trick.
McKenzie who was a constable at the time of his arrest, said he went to court on several occasions and the case was put off. He said the case was set for trial on September 12, 1988 but because of Hurricane Gilbert he could not attend court.
However, after that date McKenzie said he went to the court's office at the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court several times and was told that he would be informed when to attend court. He said since that time he was not notified of the new date.
In 1990 he should have re-enlisted in the force but that was not possible because of his suspension. After being on suspension for 16 years, he said he received a letter from the Commissioner of Police in December 2004, informing him that he was dismissed from the force.
McKenzie said after he received the dismissal notice he went with his lawyer Arthur Kitchin to see the Commissioner of Police but the Commissioner said he was not withdrawing the dismissal letter. McKenzie is asking the Judicial Review Court to determine whether the Commissioner had a duty to inform him whether he should have applied for re-enlistment while he was on suspension. He is asking the court to order that he be paid for the time he was on suspension.
B.G.
