A major shakeup is taking place within the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) by new Commissioner of Police, James Clarkson.
The shakeup includes the disbandment of the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) headed by Inspector St. John Stafford, the creation of an Audit Unit, the sending on leave of some senior police officers, and the restructuring of the controversial Special Branch Unit that operated in close tandem with the previous government of ex-Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Mitchell.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, COP Clarkson said that the promotions that took place last year under the last regime among the senior ranks of the force, took place without looking at the structure of RGPF in order to accommodate the new placement.
"The force got top heavy. We had quite a bit of officers up there who had authority, but had no responsibility. In some areas you had two Heads of Departments," he remarked.
He referred to the Criminal Investigation Department where Trevor Modeste was promoted to Superintendent of Police to work alongside the long serving Superintendent, Anthony Joseph.
According to Clarkson, several senior officers have been asked to proceed on immediate vacation leave. Among those affected will be Supt. Ted Toussaint at Central Police Station who will be replaced by Supt. Dunbar Belfon who was on the Police station on the St. George's Port.
Supt. Michael Francois of the Traffic Department was also asked to proceed on his accumulated leave and will be replaced by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Damion Lee who is currently based on the Western Division.
Supt Philbert who was recently sent to take charge of the Western Division will also be going home on leave. He will be replaced by Supt. Floyd Dragon who spent years in charge of the sister isle of Carriacou & Petite Martinique.
Also affected is ASP Claudius Coutain of the Traffic Department who is being transferred to serve on the Western Division. Commissioner Clarkson said that the move has nothing to do with politics since the affected officers have in excess of 180 days vacation time on the job.
He pointed out that some of the officers seemingly bartered their vacation leave in exchange for monetary payments under the Mitchell government."You have officers with three hundred, four hundred, some even have six hundred and above days of vacation....", he said.
"For whatever reasons those persons were allowed to accumulate that amount of days, and I can tell you some cases were financial reasons because there were some officers who get in excess of over $20,000.00 for the leave, and I think it is time that the practice of the leave for money must stop," he added.
According to Clarkson, if anyone is brave enough to tell him that these transfers were politically motivated"then we know for sure who the political officers were."
Another senior police officer being transferred is Supt. Jessman Prince, the head of the Immigration Department who will now head the newly created Audit Unit.
Supt Prince is being replaced by ASP Godfrey Flemming who was operated at Immigration but was sent packing by the Mitchell government on allegations that he was sympathetic to the Congress party.
Clarkson also addressed the issue of an alleged police beating on September 4 of two civilians that took place last week Thursday by eight members of RRU on Hog Island.
He accused the officers of acting"badly" and ill-treating some nationals"in the most degrading way in which I would suggest no fellow human beings should have been treated".
The Police Commissioner said that an investigation has been launched into the incident and in the interim the RRU has been disbanded. He disclosed that upon completion of the investigation, the files would be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution for legal direction.
In addition, internal disciplinary action will also be take placed against the police officers involved in the incident.
