Top cop defends POA chair’s ouster

Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake has defended his decision to declare the chairmanship of the Police Officers’ Association (POA) vacant, citing serious financial irregularities and a failure to provide accountability within the organisation.

In a sworn affidavit filed in response to a legal challenge by Senior Superintendent Wayne Cameron, Blake said the last POA annual general meeting (AGM) in 2022 revealed “glaring contradictions and irregularities” in the association’s unaudited financial accounts.

This sparked a “strong and contentious debate”, and the presentation of those accounts was suspended with a resolution to present audited accounts within three months. However, Blake said no such reports have been produced since then, and no further AGMs have been held – “contrary to the resolution and in breach of the expectations of the members”.

The POA represents over 350 senior officers, above the rank of inspector up to deputy commissioner, and is funded by salary deductions.

Three years later, according to Blake’s affidavit obtained by The Sunday Gleaner, the association’s accounts are now frozen on the advice of investigators “to safeguard the funds”. He claimed that Cameron was the only executive member with access to the POA’s bank accounts, and has refused to hand over control to the secretary-treasurer despite repeated requests.

Not motivated by spite

He insisted that his decision, announced on September 8, to declare the position of POA chairman vacant was not motivated by spite, but was done to safeguard the funds contributed to the association by the membership.

“To have ignored the matter would have amounted to a gross dereliction of my duty. There was nothing clandestine or retaliatory in my actions,” Blake said, noting that an investigation is ongoing.

Blake also argued that the POA is not a legally established or self-regulating body like the Jamaica Police Federation, but rather a voluntary group that operates under the supervision of the commissioner of police.

Cameron had claimed, in an affidavit filed in support of his lawsuit and a grievance report to the Office of the Services Commission (OSC), that he endured political victimisation and harassment from Blake and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang.

The OSC is the human resources arm of the Government.

Chang has rejected the claim as “totally dishonest”.

Cameron also claimed that the police commissioner’s attempt to unseat him as chairman of the POA was retaliation for the grievance he filed with the OSC.

“I have suffered occupational detriment; I have been victimised; harassed; being transferred against my will and refused promotion,” he charged in the grievance report.

As an example, Cameron indicated that in August 2023, he was among 10 senior superintendents who were promoted to assistant commissioner.

But he said 11 months and two weeks later, he was removed from the post of assistant commissioner – a move he believes was a breach of police Staff Orders and was “calculated” to bypass an OSC circular requiring a permanent appointment after one year in a post.

In addition, Cameron said that in December last year the commissioner gave instructions that he should be transferred from his post of commander of the Ports Division to administrative officer for the Police Area 5.

However, the senior cop said he objected to the transfer, which would have placed him under the command of an officer who was his junior and considered it a breach of police standard operating procedures.

But the police commissioner, in his response, said despite “disciplinary concerns”, his “genuine” intention was to recommend to the Police Services Commission that Cameron be promoted to the rank of assistant commissioner and that he would take command of the Port Security Branch.

Internal disciplinary cases PENDING

He cited, as examples, internal disciplinary cases pending against Cameron stemming from separate incidents in 2020; claims that the senior cop went absent without leave for two weeks; and his alleged refusal to report for duty at the Police Area 5 in January this year after his transfer was announced.

Cameron was tasked with working alongside outgoing Port Security Branch commander Assistant Commissioner Marlon Nesbeth to formulate and commence implementation of a border security plan and was told his promotion was conditional on him carrying out these duties, Blake said.

He said despite these clear directives and the urgency of the assignment, SSP Cameron failed to provide the requisite support in the formulation and implementation of the plan “and its consequential operations”.

“The dereliction of responsibility was not incidental but part of a recurring pattern,” Blake charged.

The police commissioner noted that it was not unusual within the ranks of the police forces for members with fewer years of service to hold higher ranks than some with greater years of service.

He said Cameron benefitted from this when, as a corporal in 2002, he was selected for the graduate entry programme and promoted to Assistant Superintendent upon completion.

“He immediately assumed command over officers who were, at the time, far senior to him in both rank and age.”

Cameron’s application for leave to seek judicial review of Blake’s attempt to remove him as chairman of the POA is scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court on October 29.

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com