senior cop blasts contracts afforded Britons

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Re: senior cop blasts contracts afforded Britons

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That cartoon says it all! Nice post!

One more question: Why did the Government reach out all the way to England when they could have tapped the expertise of the FBI or the Royal Canadian Mounties for a hell of a lot less money?

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They tried, according to the papers. Some months back when I was still over there and they were talking about it constantly as the next British recruit came in. Papers stated they'd tried recruiting in UK, USA, Canada & Australia. Supposedly the Brits were most suitable.

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Re: senior cop blasts contracts afforded Britons

Tapping expertise doesn't do much with something like policing.

I don't know about other countries but this bringing in Brits could be a Commonwealth throw-back thing. After a few states in my country had Royal Commissions into police corruption, my home state hired an English to be police commissioner. Part of it was so there could be no accusation of what corrupt connections he had. A lot of people were peeeeved bad!, and as it turned out he left admid more accusations of his inefficiency.

So, point is, apart from expertise, JA could be wanting people with no connection to the corruption. Of which they seem to be totally unable or unwilling to do anything about.

I mentioned a while back I was making complaints about some corrupt (Jamaican) cops, who are still bothering me, a couple of months after I left the island. Well, my only response was from the Attorney General, more about the court than the cops. No response whatsoever from anyone else.

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[Tuff Gong]

Re: senior cop blasts contracts afforded Britons


The POA defends its stance
published: Tuesday | June 27, 2006

THE EDITOR, Sir:

WHILE THE Police Officers' Association (POA) is not in the habit of responding to malicious and baseless criticism, we feel that a grave injustice would be done if we did not respond to the issues raised in the editorial in The Sunday Gleaner of June 21.

The POA does not view a chairman of an association who, in arguing for improved remuneration, makes reference to others who are in the same organisation, doing similar jobs, with similar competencies, experience and qualifications as members of his association, but receiving substantially higher salaries from their mutual employer, as an "unfortunate comparison."

The editorial was, however, correct when it asserted that Acting Assistant Commissioner Leon Rose is aware of the circumstances of their appointment and the true source from which their salaries emanates, and it is on the basis of that knowledge that his statements were made.

We acknowledge that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is not perfect. In furtherance of our acceptance of that fact, we the members of the JCF in 1998 initiated a programme of reform and modernisation supported by the British Government through the Department of Inter-national Development (DFID). Under the programme, for the first time a Corporate Strategy was developed to guide the process we, as an organisation, viewed as essential to achieving our vision of the JCF as a modern, appropriately equipped, efficient police service, that acts with the highest integrity and professionalism to serve the needs of our nation.

INITIATIVES

As part of that programme of reform and modernisation, numerous initiatives have been developed and implemented, including the creation of the Professional Standards Branch to safeguard against corrupt practices within our ranks; the improvement of our intelligence gathering capability and the continued expansion of our intelligence-driven crime reduction initiatives; the heavy investment in training of our personnel at all levels including those involved in criminal investigation, and the many other initiatives.

The efforts of the members of the JCF, under the leadership of our Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lucius Thomas, has resulted in a steep decline in murder during the first six months of this year.

Yet, if credence is to be given to the editorial, this should be credited solely to the British nationals, which can only be, at best, described as an extremely simplistic interpretation of the facts, and betrays a lack of knowledge about the policing in general and about the JCF in particular.

The rest of the JCF stands accused of being "corrupt, inept, repressive and contributing more to social instability than the prevention or solution to crime". We view this as a very serious and unfortunate allegation that is made even more so given the source of the accusation.

We disagree with the statement that the POA has shifted the 'goal post' in respect of our position on the proposed contracts of employment for local officers of the commissioning ranks and on the hiring of non-nationals to fill senior police posts.

BENEFICIAL RELATIONSHIPS

To date, our stated position on these issues has not changed. We, therefore, repeat that we are not averse to the employment of non-Jamaican police officers to help build the capacity of the JCF; in fact, we embrace them and have been working on developing harmonious and mutually beneficial relationships with them.

Moreover, in case you missed it, they too are in solidarity with our quest for better remuneration. We also wish to assure all that we support the editorial's point about the necessity of ensuring maximum return on the investment being made in these officers.

Finally, the POA has never ceased to engage the Government on the matter of the reform and modernisation of the Jamaica Constabulary.

This, we accept, may not always be apparent to the public. However, we remain available to discuss our position on these issues.

I am, etc.,

NORMAN HEYWOOD

Superintendent of Police

Chairman

The POA defends its stance


Foreign police officers' salary
published: Thursday | June 29, 2006

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE POLICE Officers Association has responded in a letter published in The Gleaner of June 27, to an editorial of The Sunday Gleaner of June 21. This response has failed to answer the central issue which was raised by the chairman of the Police Officers Association. That issue is what to do in a situation were the public purse is unable to offer significant salary increases to police officers, while at the same time, ex-budgetary support is being offered to foreign police officers assigned to the JCF.

It is unlikely that these foreign police officers would accept an assignment in Jamaica for less remuneration than they are accustomed to in the home country. Since it is impossible to get these extra-budgetary sources (i.e. the British Government) to offer equal assistance to all Jamaican police officers, the question is what should be the response of the Jamaican Government. There are only two feasible outcomes: (1) a differentiated remuneration package with foreign police offers receiving more than the local police officers, or (2) a remuneration package which is equal for all persons of similar ranks, but a JCF has no foreign input.

The chairman of the Police Officers Association needs to level with the country as to which of these two options (which are the only ones possible) is his association advocating.

I am, etc.,

PETER-JOHN GORDON

[email protected]

Kingston

Foreign police officers' salary

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Re: senior cop blasts contracts afforded Britons


Fri Sep 29, 2006
Jamaican-Canadian cop comes to JA to share expertise

A Jamaican who has risen through the ranks to an Inspector in the Toronto Police Service is heading to Jamaica for a six month attachment with the local police.
Canadian officials are reporting that Inspector David McLeod is coming to Jamaica to lend his expertise in intelligence-gathering and analysis, as well as his knowledge of gangs and gang violence.

In return, he hopes to learn how the Jamaica Constabulary Force handles drug importation, community policing and the island's gang problem.

It is expected that a Jamaican cop will be sent to Toronto for six months as part of an exchange programme.

http://www.radiojamaica.com/news/story.php?category=2&story=28653