WESTERN BUREAU:

Twenty-three-year-old fake cop, Courtney Grayson, yesterday underwent gruelling questioning from the anti-corruption unit regarding how he successfully breached security at the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) over the last six months.

Grayson was handed over to the anti-corruption branch last weekend, the unit's head, Justin Felice, told The Gleaner.

"Owing to the seriousness of the breach, we felt we needed to have an independent body outside of the division investigate the case," Assistant Commissioner of Police Denver Frater confirmed yesterday.

Self-assigned

Grayson, who assigned himself to the Mount Salem Police Station during his approximately 182-day stint with the force, was arrested on March 8 and charged with impersonating a policeman and unlawful possession of property. The police found a JCF metal badge, blue-denim uniform and a pair of combat boots during a search of his home in the volatile Hendon, Norwood, community where he resides with his girlfriend.

Grayson's cover was blown after persons became suspicious of him and called the police who swooped down on him and subsequently found that he had been operating as a policeman for months.

Active tenure

Grayson was very active during his tenure, signing in and out for firearms and going on raids across the Second City. However, Frater said he was not aware of the illegitimate cop discharging any rounds or making any arrests.

Although the 'wannabee' policeman breached all the regulations of the JCF, Frater said: "It's not just a case wherein one can just walk into a police station. A profile is usually sent on that individual to ensure that he or she is indeed a member of the constabulary force."

Frater said checks and balances had obviously not been followed in this case.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com

A policeman or woman being transferred or stationed to a police station goes through the following:

✓ All movements of personnel within the JCF must be listed in the Force Orders. If it is not listed it is not legitimate.

✓ Before a transfer takes effect, there must be direct communication between the heads of the two divisions involved.

✓ The sub-officer at each police station is mandated to introduce all new personnel to the superintendent in charge of the division and this must be done in person.

✓ A policeman moving into a new division must be accompanied by his file, which carries all information about him and includes his areas of speciality.

✓ Police personnel are generally transferred from one division to another by police vehicle.