I am a former member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), now residing in the United States after serving for 17 years and resigning at the rank of sergeant.

I read the article in The Gleaner recently about the fake cop/police impostor. I am still amazed as to how this could have happened in the JCF.

Meet commanding officers

I know police transfers are usually published in the force orders and if, for any reason, there is an immediate or express transfer, it is published soon afterwards.

The police personnel involved are usually picked up by persons from the division to which they are transferred or vice versa.

If the policeman owns a motor vehicle, he can report on his transfer to that division on his own

Whatever the case, the policeman must meet with the commanding officer on arrival or as soon as possible thereafter.

So, in this case, what of his file which is usually sent on to the new division and the other records at the station such as duty roster and duty forecast where his name, rank and regulation number must appear.

I am not perfect and we all make mistakes but this could never happen under my watch. I mean, if it even happened for a short while, it could not happen for so long.

Having worked as a tutor constable and assisted as divisional training subofficer, I would come to realise that there are certain terms that a civilian is not familiar with so, therefore, this person would have been weak in many areas.

In my book, if you cannot master certain things, you would not be carrying M-16 rifles on the street. However, you would be indoors in the guardroom strengthening your weak points.

- Sharon Johnson-Walton

Hartford, Connecticut.