Leonardo Blair, Enterprise Reporter
Reneto Adams - FILE
THE PENDING reinstatement and assigning of Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams to active duty, appears to be creating tension between local officials and the British Government.
Last December, SSP Adams, along with other policemen, were acquitted of murder charges related to the killing of four persons in Kraal, Clarendon, on May 7, 2003. But while the other policemen have been reinstated to active duties, SSP Adams has remained in limbo and Public Defender Howard Hamilton is not pleased about it.
"Legally, Mr. Adams' position is, he is an innocent man," said Mr. Hamilton in an interview from his office on Monday. "His status is as it was before the Kraal incident, consequently the matter of his reinstatement must be addressed. It is a matter of urgency that his situation be rectified. He can't be allowed to remain in limbo indefinitely."
UNFAIR TREATMENT
Mr. Hamilton recently intervened in the matter at the request of Mr. Adams who feels he is being treated unfairly. He explained that he has since written to Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas. The Commissioner's Office, he explained, responded in a letter signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police Jevene Bent, informing him that the matter has been referred to the Police Services Commission (PSC). "When I hear from the Police Services Commission, I will act, it has been an inordinately long time," Hamilton said.
Yesterday, however, at a post-sectoral press briefing at the Ministry of National Security, Commissioner Thomas told journalists that he intends to reinstate SSP Adams but was awaiting word from the PSC to do so.
COMMISSIONER'S DECISION
"The decision rests with the Commissioner of Police and the Police Services Commission. I await a formal letter from the Police Services Commission to reinstate Mr. Adams and I emphasise that Mr. Adams will be reinstated."
"The policy is that the Police Services Commission is responsible for discipline, promotions and study leave. The Commis-sioner of Police has the responsibility and the authority to reinstate from the rank of Constable to Sergeant, any other rank above that we refer to the Police Services Commission," Thomas explained.
But that statement was quickly qualified by Noel Hylton, chairman of the PSC yesterday, when he declared that the PSC does not make decisions concerning the assignment or reinstatement of the Commissioner's staff.
"The Commissioner is totally responsible for his workforce, he decides where his staff goes!" said Hylton. "There is a difference between assignment and reinstatement. The Commissioner has written to the PSC about the reinstatement of Mr. Adams. He does not have to wait on a response from us to make a decision."
In a statement on Monday, the British Government, which currently assists the JCF with crime-fighting efforts, said it was not in support of the lobby for SSP Adams' reinstatement. "We note that a decision is pending on the possible reinstatement of Reneto Adams. We are clear that the British Government's support for the JCF in no way condones the activities carried out by the Crime Management Unit, that led to the allegations at Kraal in Clarendon," said the British High Commission in a statement.
"Supported by the UK, the JCF is undergoing an important reform and modernisation programme. We believe that the JCF and the Government of Jamaica are working hard to ensure that the JCF becomes a more professional, highly regarded and transparent organisation. The British Government remains committed to supporting the JCF in this regard, " the statement added.
Last year, in a statement after Adams' acquittal, Commissioner Thomas said the freed policemen would not have been reinstated until they received counselling. He said this was according to the Force's policy covering officers who have been out of service for more than one year. Since then Adams has done the requisite therapy.
