A hard act to follow

Western Bureau:

Senior Superintendent of Police Vernon Ellis, after serving an unprecedented six and a half years, is no longer the commander officer for the St James Police division, having taken up new duties in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Area Two headquarters last Tuesday. However, he has left behind a very long shadow, a legacy that will be difficult to replicate.

During an appreciation ceremony put on by the Montego Bay business community, he was hailed as ‘the best’ and ‘most successful’ commanding officer the parish has ever had by several top stakeholders, who, while hailing the success of his various initiatives, openly expressed regret that he was leaving.

John Byles, deputy chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board, who was unavoidably absent overseas, but insisted that his tribute be read at the appreciation ceremony, described Ellis as a catalyst for positive change, whose contribution was nothing short of remarkable.

“Through his unwavering dedication and innovative approaches, he has significantly improved the fabric of our society. He was the architect of the Public Order Reset, a sterling initiative that saw our streets becoming safer, our public spaces more orderly, and our community’s morale and sense of community soared to new heights,” said Byles.

Parish in panic mode

When Ellis came to St James in 2018, the parish was in panic mode, having seen a record 342 murders in 2017 and a projection that the count was poised to double, as marauding gangsters wreaked havoc, even in the heart of the Montego Bay business district. In his first year, using what he termed, ‘a public order reset’, the murder count dropped to 102 in 2018, and Ellis became the darling of both the business community and the tourism sector.

It was therefore no surprise that, during the appreciation ceremony, it was like a ‘who’s who’ of personalities who came out to say “thank you” to Ellis.

The list included St James custos, Bishop Conrad Pitkin; Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon; Oral Heaven, the president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry; the top leadership of the Chinese community; Reggae Sumfest’s chief executive officer, Joe Bogdanovich; the presidents of various citizens’ associations; former police commanders; representatives of the various Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) formations, that Ellis worked with regular citizens.

“In terms of a willingness to forge partnership, and the overall impact he has created, the success he has had, and the length of time he has served with unwavering commitment, I have no reservation in saying that he is the best commander we have ever had, and I am truly sad to see him go. I wish him well wherever he goes, because our loss will be their gain,” said Pitkin.

Long list of achievements

With one of several plaques presented to Ellis, the Montego Bay business community documented his long list of notable achievements, which they said made him their ideal partner in restoring order in the western city, and the wider St James.

“Under his vigilant eyes and compassionate hands, SSP Ellis has redefined the relationship with the police, particularly in the once-turbulent area of Salt Spring. His strategic social intervention has borne fruit, cultivating an environment in the reduction of violent crimes,” the plaque read. “Today, we see evidence of his work in the smiles of the children, who now greet our officers with a warm embrace, a testament to the trust and respect that he has helped to build between the community and the police force. This is something Project STAR has replicated within other turbulent communities in Jamaica.”

While Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett was not present at the event, he got arguably the biggest applause of the night. In a message sent in his capacity as the member of parliament for St James East Central, which is home to Montego Bay’s Elegant Corridor, the hub of the city’s tourism, he made an incredible scholarship offer to Ellis.

“We are delighted to learn of your pursuit of higher education and commend your decision to undertake studies in strategic management and leadership at the London Institute of Business & Technology in the UK (United Kingdom),” wrote Bartlett. “Your commitment to continuous learning and personal development reflects your passion for excellence … In recognition of your outstanding contribution to our community and your tireless effort in ensuring the safety of our tourism sector, it is our privilege to present you with a scholarship towards your studies.

“Your unwavering commitment to securing and helping to maintain the resilient corridor, which provided a safe space for tourists amid the uncertainties brought by the pandemic (COVID-19), has not gone unnoticed. Your leadership and proactive measures have not only safeguarded our visitors but have also contributed significantly to the revitalisation of our tourism industry,” noted Bartlett.

Ellis, a native of Hanover, who attended school in Montego Bay, leaves behind a solid record of achievement as commander in terms of new initiatives and hardcore crime-fighting.

In terms of initiatives, he was the mastermind behind Restoring Paradise, which displaced gangsters from the business district, brought traffic management and street vending under control, established the quick response motorcycle unit, and instituted measure to manage the COVID-19 pandemic so critical sectors, especially tourism and business process outsourcing (BPO) could remain functional.

As it relates to hardcore policing, he took on the major gangs, arresting several top-flight gangsters and dismantling their network. In his six and a half years, an unprecedented 776 illegal firearms, inclusive of dozens of rifles, alongside more than 16,377 rounds of ammunition were taken off the streets.

“I am not easily impressed, but Superintendent Ellis is easily the best commander we have ever had in St James. He came with his head held high and is leaving with his head held ever higher and his integrity intact,” said former top-flight crime-fighter Clive ‘Karate Georgie’ Lawrence. “He has earned the respect, support and cooperation from residents in communities, which the police had given up hope on in former years. He will be a hard act to follow.”

Superintendent Eron Samuels, who served as Ellis’ deputy over the past two years, and has been building a tidy resume for himself, has assumed the role as the new police commander for St James.

ediorial@gleanerjm.com