Leadership shake-up at C-TOC takes effect today

Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Anthony McLaughlin and Superintendent Victor Barrett have been reassigned from the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Division (C-TOC) in a leadership shake-up that took effect on Monday.

The changes, announced in the police Force Orders, come days after police reported that two illegal parcels of cocaine were found inside C-TOC storage facilities. There has been no allegation of wrongdoing by McLaughlin and Barrett, and the force orders did not link the changes to the cocaine seizure.

The Force Orders is the document circulated to all Jamaica Constabulary Force personnel to communicate administrative directives, including promotions, transfers and training requirements.

McLaughlin, who was head of C-TOC, has been reassigned to the Forensic Services Branch. He has been replaced by Senior Superintendent Christopher Brown, who was previously assigned to the Forensic Services Branch, according to the document published on January 29.

Superintendent Victor Barrett, who was second-in-command at C-TOC, has been transferred to the Crime and Security portfolio, according to the Force Orders.

His replacement is Superintendent OC Henry, who was previously assigned to the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID).

The reassignments take effect on Monday.

In a statement issued on January 23, the police said the two parcels of cocaine were found “in breach of established protocols” following a “comprehensive” audit at C-TOC storage facilities ordered by Deputy Commissioner of Police Richard Stewart.

The audit was triggered by the arrest and charge of Inspector Martin Walker, who is charged with conspiracy to export cocaine, as well as possession of, dealing in, and transportation of cocaine. Walker is attached to C-TOC.

He was arrested after a quantity of the illicit drug was allegedly found in his private motor vehicle during a police operation on January 8 this year.

In announcing the seizure of cocaine at C-TOC, the force said Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake also ordered the removal of of the FNID from C-TOC's oversight.

The force also said the High Command had given its full support to the FNID as it carries out the investigations.

- Livern Barrett

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