Norman Grindley/Deputy Chief Photographer
Ealan Powell, senior superintendent of police, gets emotional during his farewell address to staff at the Police Traffic Division headquarters at Elletson Road in Kingston on Thursday.

Glenroy Sinclair, Assignment Coordinator

Before he could finish saying goodbye to the men and women he had had under his command for the past four years, Senior Superintendent Ealan Powell took out a handkerchief from his right back pocket and began wiping tears from his face.

Without saying another word, the 25-year veteran of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) walked away from the podium to the head table where he sat and continued to wipe the tears from his eyes. SSP Powell was saying farewell to colleagues of the Police Traffic Division on Thursday afternoon.

He was among seven other senior superintendents transferred by Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin.

"I have been transferred to the Police Staff College as the programmes director," SSP Powell told The Sunday Gleaner on Thursday.

He will be responsible for coordinating internal courses for the JCF. A Cornwall College past student, the senior officer implored his juniors to come onboard and fight corruption.

No evidence

"There is a perception out there that some of the most corrupt policemen and women are from the Police Traffic Division, but there is no evidence to prove this. I want all of you to go out there and change this perception," charged SSP Powell.

He stressed that the strategies he had implemented at the Police Traffic Division during his tenure of four years and two months had helped to reduced the number of fatal accidents below 391 per year.

"When I went to the division, we had up to 391 fatal accidents per year," said Mr Powell.

He increased the number of traffic police on the streets. This helped to reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents down from 14,000 in 2003 to 10,000 last year.

"The figures have been trending down over the years," the senior superintendent reported.

Listed among his achievements is the traffic management of World Cup Cricket 2007, the issuing of over 25,000 warrants, plus the implementation of strategies which have led to the improved conduct of bus and taxi operators."Under my watch, the relationship between the Police Traffic Division and other agencies such as the National Road Safety Council and the media, has improved," said SSP Powell.

Responding to questions about why he joined the police force, the officer said apart from just having graduated from school and wanting a job, he had always had the ambition to serve in the JCF.

"Today, I have no regrets," said Powell, who served as a detective for eight years at the Constant Spring Police Station in St Andrew, as well as in the marine and several other divisions.