Ticker Testing
Thompson stamps his authority
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- Parent Category: Sept 2011
- Category: Week ending Sept 03rd, 2011
- Published on Saturday, 03 September 2011 13:17
- Hits: 1098
Grenadians can expect new Commissioner of Police, Willan Thompson to adopt some tough measures as he leads the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) into a new era. In his maiden address at a change of command ceremony last week Friday at the Special Services Unit Compound in Point Salines, Commissioner Thompson made known his immediate priorities which include making sure that the force move forward as an institution that is responsible for law and order.
He also signaled his intention to revisit some matters such as discipline and justice, which he said, will be given special consideration. “Attention will be paid to internal justice and how it is dispensed since the old maxim of justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done should also hold true for the RGPF”, he said.
“We cannot afford to continue to pay out large sums of money to (police) officers who were purportedly dismissed without being given a proper hearing and then have them returned to the force,” he added. The new Police Commissioner promised to feel the pulse of the men and women in uniform who are under his command.
According to Thompson, he plans to meet with the rank and file members from time to time to deal with matters that are of concern to them, and which may negatively impact productivity.
The new Commissioner also disclosed that over the next few weeks, a series of meetings will be held with the various ranks and women in order to set the course for the ensuing period. He said that as they work together to further modernise and improve the productivity and efficiency of RGPF measures need to be taken to offer training to members of the force.
He admitted that in recent years, there has been less overseas training available to the local police force, but felt that creative ways should be found and implemented in order to provide the requisite training to police officers.
“Orders will be reintroduced to deal with matters of discipline and commendation. The roles and duties of the police are clearly mandated by law,” he said. However, Commissioner Thompson said that in recent times there have been some changes in policing strategies, which he said have resulted in a more practical and public way of community policing.
He said while it is embraced by the RGPF and it might be agreed that this new feature of policing strategy is here to stay, he is of the view that on a national basis, the organisation has not achieved as much as they could have. The new head of the force promised that more attention will be paid to that nature of policing so as to help those departments in the RGPF that are staggering. He believes this will facilitate a more structured way in executing the community policing functions.
Commissioner Thompson said the RGPF will continue to work with the general public, but called for citizens in return to work with the police force by providing information, comments, suggestions and constructive criticisms that can help in making the society safer for everyone. He stated that the prevention and solution of crime cannot be seen as a simplistic matter, and assured everyone that very special attention will be paid to that area.
“Let the business community be assured that as a (police) force we are acutely aware of their importance to the society and our support is unflinching. Let us commit ourselves to work with each other for the good of Grenada,” he said. Commissioner Thompson also made reference to traffic management, which he said continues to create a serious challenge to law enforcement officials.
He said this will be addressed thus ensuring that pedestrians, drivers and other persons doing business can do so with little or no inconvenience. Just before the carnival season, Head of Traffic, Superintendent Jessmon Prince said he is seeking the Minister of Transport approval in having various zones of the public buses travel along certain streets in the city.
The top COP indicated that where there is need for redeployment of police officers, it will be done so as to maximise the RGPF’s strengths and efficiencies. Commissioner Thompson who briefly met with members of the media at the end of the ceremony gave the assurance that the role of the Public Relations office and the Public Relations Officer of the RGPF would not change. He gave assurances that the media will see more information being disseminated to them by ASP Sylvan McIntyre and his staff at the Community Relations Department.
In recent years, RGPF has been dogged with political interference, which saw a group of middle-rank police officers taking former Commissioner Winston James to court to challenge promotion in 2008. Commissioner Thompson said there will be a police force free of political interference. He said he did not expect the political arm of the State to become involved in the operation of the police force.
“There is always the independence of the institution that has to be guarded at all times,” he added. Prime Minister Tillman Thomas who spoke at the change of guard ceremony said there is need to maintain the independence of the RGPF as an institution.
‘’I’m totally committed to the independence of the Royal Grenada Police Force, not only am I committed to that, but also committed to respecting institutions in the society,” he remarked.
Thompson’s appointment as Commissioner of Police was done after he was recommended by the Public Service Commission that conducted interviews with four police officers who applied for the job.
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