Succession plan in place for Police Officers

The necessary steps have been taken to recommend persons to fill vacant positions in the top brass of the Royal St.Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force.{{more}}

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of National Security Godfred Pompey in an exclusive interview with SEARCHLIGHT on Tuesday, April 19, confirmed that Deputy Commissioner of Police Bertie Pompey and Ekron Lockhart, one of the Assistant Commissioners of Police, are now on pre-retirement leave.

He disclosed that Lenroy Brewster, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, is acting as Deputy Police Commissioner.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that the Acting Commander of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard Brenton Cain has been appointed to act as Assistant Commissioner of Police.

According to PS Pompey, recommendations will be sent to the Police Service Commission to appoint persons to fill the various top posts, as well as for promotions.

“That is the process in which we are engaging now,” said Pompey, noting that presently, there are persons acting in various positions in Administrative Control.

On the issue of aging members of the top brass retiring and a succession plan for new leaders, Pompey said: “There are presently about six police officers in training, studying law and so forth. So there is continous training for the police officers in recognition of that fact.”

“A number of persons have since returned from training and a number of those will hopefully be considered to fill some of these vacancies,” said Pompey.

He noted that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as well as the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force’s Prosecution Unit have benefitted immensely from police officers who have successfully completed degrees in Law.

“So things are in place for that in terms of succession planning,” said Pompey, adding that Prime Minister Dr.Ralph Gonsalves has always spoken of the need to train police officers to build the capacity of the Force.

“So that is something that we continue to pursue,” said Pompey.

The Royal St.Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force is headed by Commissioner of Police Keith Miller.(HN)