Erica Virtue, Staff Reporter
THE Reneto Adams' headed Crime Management Unit is to come under tighter scrutiny by Commissioner Francis Forbes next year, The Sunday Gleaner has learnt.
The review which the Commissioner asked Assistant Commissioner of Police Alrick Lecky to undertake of the 15-month-old unit was handed over to Mr. Forbes with glowing commendations and severe criticisms.
SSP Adams and his deputy, Superintendent Donald Pusey, were commended for their fearless approach to fighting crime and the unit was congratulated for the recovery of thousands of rounds of ammunition and scores of illegal weapons.
The unit was also commended for capturing several men wanted for various crimes across the island.
However, the "operational conduct" of the CMU was questioned. Opera-tional conduct describes the behaviour of the officers before, on, and after an operation. Debriefing and accountability are other sore-points, The Sunday Gleaner understands. These relate to the questioning of the officers after a completed assignment so that it may be properly analysed, documented and put into perspective.
In a previous interview, Police Federation chairman Inspector Neville Knight told The Sunday Gleaner that generally the debriefing of police personnel is a necessity, which is too often ignored in the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
SSP Adams dismissed suggestions last week that the CMU was acting as a law unto itself, and answered to no one.
He told The Sunday Gleaner that he did not want to pre-empt the Commis-sioner, "...who I believe may be giving a report on the review, but some people are of the opinion that we do not answer to anybody. I answer to the Commissioner of Police and he must know our whereabouts and we must report to him after and before an operation is completed," Mr. Adams said.
ACP Lecky's findings which have not been officially released, are currently being reviewed by SSP Adams and his deputy who are also briefing the members of the unit.
Sunday Gleaner sources explained that come next year, the Commissioner will be insisting that CMU personnel are properly prepared and debriefed before and after assignments.
Asked about criticisms of the unit's operation, SSP Adams said, "There are certain recommendations that we have to pay attention to."
He however declined to comment on them.
The Lecky report also criticises Mr. Adams, in particular for his "accessibility to the media," and sources said he was accused of "chatting too much".
But according to the controversial lawman, "From day one, we promised openness, accountability and transparency. One of the primary ways of doing this is through the press."
Asked if he will not heed the criticism, he said, "I have taken cognisance of their views. But that will not deter me from communicating with the press on issues which they want to be informed."
The Sunday Gleaner was unable to get a comment from Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips, who is said to have "just" received the report and did not want to offer an uninformed comment.
