Supt. Joseph being sent back to CID

Supt. Joseph being sent back to CID

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Details: Parent Category: Oct 2011; Category: Week ending Oct 29th, 2011; Hits: 613

Ace crime fighter, Superintendent Anthony Joseph is going back as Head of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF).

An authoritative source told THE NEW TODAY newspaper that Supt. Joseph was called in by new Commissioner of Police, Willan Thompson last Tuesday and informed of his decision to send him back to take charge of CID.

He said that the change will take effect from November 1 with the current head of the department, Supt. Dunbar Belfon being sent back to head the Community Relations Department.

According to the source, the move was not unexpected in light of the lukewarm relations existing between some police investigators and Belfon since he took up duties there about a year ago.

He spoke of some officers being reluctant to work with the CID Chief on the grounds that he had been demonstrating too much of a standoffish approach with them.

One senior officer was quoted as saying that if a member of staff wanted to see Supt. Belfon they had to make an appointment through his Secretary.

“How could this man want to lead people onto the battle field when he is so distant from the men under his command”, retorted the officer who did not want to be identified.

Speculation is rife that Supt. Belfon is not too happy with the decision of Commissioner Thompson to remove him from CID and send him back to Public Relations.

The source said that he expressed a strong desire to remain at the department and was not pre-occupied with position and was prepared to work along with Supt. Joseph whom he recognized was “a good officer” and was respected in the area of crime fighting.

Since assuming the post of Commissioner of Police, Thompson has been making a few departmental changes in an effort to stamp his authority on the force.

Other changes include Supt Jessmon Prince who, on his return from vacation is expected to command the Special Services Unit, Supt Frank Philbert is now officer in-charge of Traffic. Prosecution is now headed by Insp Sheila Andall, Cadet Officer Andrea Cadet who previously served as Head of Community Relations Department is now a member of the Prosecution team.

The new Chief cop has reportedly issued a strong warning to those police officers who might be inclined to engage in sexual exploitation of their female counterparts.

“He did address police officers and made a call for any female officer who felt abused by any senior police officer in order to get promotion to report the matter to him immediately and he would deal with it”, said a police insider.

Thompson officially took charge of RGPF as replacement for James Clarkson whose contract expired on October 15.