Newly appointed police chief, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin (second left), stands with (from left) SSP Reneto Adams, Junior Security Minister Arthur Williams, ACP Keith Gardener and Security Minister Derrick Smith. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin has been in the job for only two weeks. He spoke late last week with Earl Moxam about his first impressions and some of his priorities. We present excerpts of the interview below.
EM: Well, Commissioner, you are just about two weeks into the job, what have been some of your first impressions?
HL: My first impressions are really just a validation of some of my long-held views. One is that there is a tremendous amount of talent within the constabulary force. That's the good news. There also have been a lot of 'negative talents' within the force. That's unfortunate, but the way things happen, naturally, is that it is the negative that seems to smother the good, and so part of my task is really to reverse that. We need to reduce the negatives; get them out of the system, and ensure that all the good-quality people come to the top, and let those good works be demonstrated.
EM: Getting rid of the negative influences would include getting rid of some personnel as well then, if you are talking about negative forces.
HL: Well, there are two issues. Negative forces might be people who are themselves not good for the force. At the same time, negative forces might be some habits or culture that we have. And so, it would have to be a two-fold issue. We do have to come down hard on those people who give the force this bad image.
EM: For years, it has been argued that the police commissioner has not had the capacity to do as much as he would want to do in terms of getting rid of people at particular levels because of the strictures attached. There have been calls for legislative changes to make that possible. In fact, the Government has given that commitment. How much of a free hand do you feel that you have at this stage, and how much more do you need to be empowered to make those personnel changes where necessary?
HL: I think one may get the impression that the commissioner of police is totally powerless. It is not so. Whatever procedures there are, whatever disciplinary powers he has, proper procedures must be followed. It seems to me, based on the historical information that I have, that one would need to review to see in which areas these can be strengthened, and I'll be looking into that. I'm not in a position now to speak to that in detail. I would just make one point: The commissioner of police is not entirely powerless.
EM: So, the message then is, using the powers available to you right now, where there are changes that need to be made, you will make those changes?
HL: You have to use the tools you have!
EM: Have there been any surprises?
HL: No. No surprises.
EM: You knew it all before?
HL: I didn't know it all. But the interesting thing is that my own style is to have dialogue at all levels. I'm a people person, and so, from the constable up to the deputy commissioner, to the civilian, I have dialogue. Many of the ideas and thoughts that I have floated were not new to the constabulary. There are people there who have already thought of it, but nothing happened to it. And so, part of my role is really to give effect to many of the plans and thinking that already exist within the force.
EM: Many of the senior officers themselves had applied for the post of police commissioner, and there were expressions of disquiet at the thought that someone else outside the force would be appointed. Have you, therefore, had any difficulty in terms of communicating with those persons and allaying their fears?
HL: Whatever the issues were, it was expressed by the various associations (within the force) that they would want to see one from within their ranks. I think the other issue that they had was a problem with the process of selection. At no time was there anything personal against Hardley Lewin and I have not detected any such issue at any time whatsoever, prior to taking up the post and in the past two weeks.
EM: There is one particular senior officer who is irrepressible in terms of his public utterances and he is controversial - Senior Superintendent Reneto Adams. What kind of a relationship do you have with him?
HL: Prior to joining (the JCF), Mr. Adams and I had spoken on about four occasions and these were extremely pleasant. He's a very charming man!
EM: He's very close to retirement. Do you see yourself having any difficulty with him between now and then?
HL: I can see no reason why I should have any difficulty with Mr. Adams; or anyone else for that matter.
EM: Speaking of difficulty with people, you would admit that your 'Tivoli-is-the-mother-of-all-garrisons' comment, at the time, made some members of the then Opposition uncomfortable. How has that played out, subsequently?
HL: Let me say, first of all, that I have no intention of having the press or anyone else define me by that sound byte that I uttered in 2005. I have no difficulty with anyone in the world. I have a task to do; I will carry out my job and I will carry it out to the best of my ability. If people have difficulties with me, that's fine; we can discuss that.
EM: Did you have frank discussions with the then Opposition Spokesman on National Security about that statement?
HL: We have never had any discussions pertaining to that issue.
EM: What about your own personal targets, having taken up this job as commissioner of police?
HL: By 'targets', are you referring to performance targets and so on?
EM: Performance targets, statistical goals, etc.
HL: I won't venture into that or express it here. What I do know is that the Police-Civilian Oversight Authority targets will be set for me. Clearly, whatever is set, I will certainly be raising the bar above what is set for me. So, I await that, and then I'll set my personal bar. I have some ideas, but I'm not willing yet to share them.
EM: The Minister of National Security himself has set the administration a target of reducing murder by 40 per cent over five years. Does that make you uncomfortable as Commissioner?
HL: Absolutely not! Part of the problem we have in this country is that we set low targets for ourselves and then fail to achieve them. I don't have a problem with the bar being raised. We can always look, at the end of the period, and then make a proper assessment of why we did not make a particular target. I'm not afraid of it!
