Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Major Richard Reese, commissioner of corrections, is among the candidates to be interviewed this week by the Police Service Commission for the post of Commissioner of Police. - file

Another former army man has reportedly expressed an interest in becoming Jamaica's next Commissioner of Police, Gleaner sources have confirmed.

He is retired Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) officer, Major Richard Reese, the commissioner of corrections, who four years ago was brought in by the Government to tackle the problem of corruption and indiscipline that exists inside the island's penal facilities.

He has so far dismissed 36 correctional officers and has asked another 14 to retire in the public's interest.

Now Major Reese is looking to add to an impressive track record which started in the JDF. He currently has his sights set on becoming the next police commissioner and, according to reliable sources, will be interviewed for the job sometime this week, by the Police Service Commission (PSC).

"No comment," was the terse reply given by Major Reese when contacted by The Gleaner yesterday.

However, The Gleaner understands that Major Reese and a number of high-ranking officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have been shortlisted to be interviewed.

Several senior officers were interviewed last week during sessions conducted on the 15th floor of the Jamaica Pegasus hotel. "The interviews lasted for about 30 minutes," said one of the applicants who completed the process.

Third military person with interest

( L - R ) Walker, Lewin

Since Lucius Thomas retired as police commissioner on October 31, Major Reese has become the third person with military background to have expressed an interest in the job.

Last month Director of Elections, Danville Walker, a former JDF reserve, said he was approached by the PSC and said he agreed to take the job if appointed. A government source later confirmed that retired army chief, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, was the man they were looking at for the job.

But while Rear Admiral Lewin remains the favourite among the shortlisted candidates, a group of senior officers said, based on how things are shaping up, the new commissioner could in fact come from within the JCF.

glenroy.sinclair@gleanerjm.com