Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

Sergeant Dalton Scott (left) and Rev. V.T. Williams pray for God's anointing on National Security Minister Derrick Smith (centre) during the Cops for Christ 25th Anniversary Church Service at the Jamaica Evangelical Association Church on Waltham Park Road in St. Andrew, yesterday. For the minister, the church sang the chorus 'God Will Take Care Of You', which Smith said was a most fitting song. - Contributed

MINISTER OF National Security Derrick Smith has hailed outgoing Commissioner of Police, Lucius Thomas, as a good example of a cop who has moved through the ranks of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to the very top.

"Commissioner Thomas is a shining example to a young police individual joining the force. He has come through the ranks and he has attained the highest office of commissioner," Smith said yesterday.

The minister was speaking at the Police Community Relations' Cops for Christ 25th Anniversary Church Service at the Jamaica Evangelistic Association at Waltham Park Road in St. Andrew.

Mr. Thomas resigned as head of the JCF effective October 31, and Mr. Smith used the opportunity yesterday to thank the 38-year veteran of the force for his service.

A bad message

Mr. Smith's comments came in the wake of calls from the Police Officers' Association and the Police Federation that Mr. Thomas' replacement should come from within the ranks of the JCF.

Both police bodies say that taking an outsider to head JCF would send a bad message about the ability of persons to move up the ranks and become commissioner.

"What message would you be sending to young persons coming into the force?" asked Cpl. Raymond Wilson, chairman of the federation. "Is it that you are telling them that they are good enough to rise to every level except that of commissioner of police?" Wilson raised in an interview with The Gleaner.

Supt. Norman Heywood, head of the Police Officers' Association said, "There are at least 10 officers who are highly qualified, who can get the job. They have the capacity for the job. They are qualified, they have the capacity to motivate and they have received the necessary training."

Mr. Smith has said, however, that the Government stands ready to accept whomever the Police Services Commission appoints as commissioner of police.

Human approach

Reports reaching The Gleaner are that Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, who will be retiring as chief of staff of the Jamaica Defence Force, is tipped for the JCF top job. Also in line is Danville Walker, director of elections. If either gets the top job, he would join Lt. Col. Trevor MacMillan as former army men to lead the JCF.

Meanwhile, the National Security Minister urged Cops for Christ to help bring a more human approach to policing.

"As a country, we need you more than we have ever needed you," he said inside the near capacity-filled church.

"This country is calling and calling loudly for an early solution to our crippling crime problem," he said.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com