JCF looking within for new Commissioner

The new commissioner of police to replace Major General Antony Anderson will come from within the ranks of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang says.

Anderson's contract expires at the end of the month.

One of the contenders for the post, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Kevin Blake, was slated to be interviewed this week.

Blake's name has been mentioned along with that of DCP Fitz Bailey as a potential replacement for Anderson.

He accompanied Chang to Thursday's Standing Finance Committee meeting, catching the attention of the opposition spokesman on finance, Julian Robinson, who quipped:

“Is DCP Blake's presence here a sign of things to come?”

Chang responded by disclosing that the interview process had begun for a new commissioner of police.

“We agreed this year that we would interview our DCPs and that the structure of the force allows their leadership to emerge internally,” Chang said.

Anderson is an army veteran who was brought into the JCF to fill the post of Commissioner vacated by George Quallo and was sworn in on March 19, 2018.

Prior to Anderson, former army men, Colonel Trevor McMillan (1993-96), and Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin (2007-2009) were also drafted into the JCF to fill the post of commissioner.

- Carl Gilchrist

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.