New Police Commissioner Pledges Greater Levels of Accountability, Transparency

Newly installed Commissioner of Police, Dr. Carl Williams, has pledged to ensure greater transparency and accountability on the part of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), as it works to improve its service and ultimately, engender the trust and respect of Jamaican citizens.

“The communities that we serve must come to rely on the police as protectors of their rights. This is the only basis upon which we can build respect and mutual trust between the people of Jamaica and the police who serve them,” he said.

Dr. Williams was speaking at a Change of Command ceremony at the Police Officers’ Club in St. Andrew on Monday, September 15, where he officially took over the reins of the JCF from Acting Commissioner of Police, Glenmore Hinds.

The new Police Commissioner assured that under his leadership, the JCF will “do everything within its power” to respond to citizens’ concerns and ensure that there is accountability at all levels of the JCF. “Our police officers will be held to the highest standards of integrity,” he said.

He further asserted that members of the JCF, in pursuing their goal of making Jamaica a safer society, will discharge their duties “with absolute impartiality and with a firm commitment to the rule of law.”

“This will assure every Jamaican of their right to equal treatment under the law, and ensure that no citizen is seen as above the law, whether they are a member of the public, a police officer or a public official,” he said.

Dr. Williams also gave his personal commitment that, under his watch, the JCF will act decisively to remove any member who has “chosen the path of corruption”.

“The creation of the new Major Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Task Force (MOCA), which combines the best resources of the former Anti-Corruption Branch and MOCA Task Force, will strengthen our ability to root out and prosecute those who undermine the mission of the security forces, and who tarnish the reputation of the JCF,” he said.

The new Police Commissioner said work will continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the JCF through the use of technology and intelligence-led policing, noting that each police officer must play his or her part in “creating a new ethos for policing in Jamaica”.

Noting that the responsibility for leadership of the JCF is an “awesome responsibility” and is not a job for the “faint hearted,” Dr. Williams thanked the Police Service Commission for entrusting him “with the responsibility to lead the men and women of this organisation that I have served for the past 30 years.”

“I am humbled by the confidence that you have placed in me, and accept the outpouring of support as an indication of a national commitment from the people of Jamaica to work hand in hand with the security forces in ensuring the safety of all Jamaicans,” he said.

The 28^th Commissioner of Police, Dr. Williams will be leading the JCF with a 30-year track record of innovation and performance in a wide variety of command roles.

He holds a PhD in Criminal Justice, and is the founding director of MOCA, and is also responsible for conceptualising and developing the Anti-Lottery Scam Taskforce.

Also to his credit, Dr. Williams led Jamaica’s anti-narcotics campaign from 2000 to 2004 with the successful prosecution and/or extradition of a number of major traffickers.

Following his enlistment in the JCF in 1984, Dr. Williams rose through the ranks to reach the level of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), holding numerous supervisory and command positions at the station, division, and area levels.

Among the dignitaries in attendance were Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen; Prime Minister the Most. Hon. Portia Simpson Miller; Minister of National Security, Hon. Peter Bunting; and Chief Justice, Zaila McCalla.