Senior officers reshuffled

In a gesture to continue the fight against the country's crime problem, which has resulted in more than 721 murders so far this year, the newly appointed commissioner of police, Dr Carl Williams, has shuffled some of the senior officers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). This was yesterday confirmed by an high-ranking official at the Ministry of National Security.

Rated among the brightest senior officers of the JCF, Novelette Grant was not only promoted to the rank of deputy commissioner (DCP), but she has also replaced DCP Clifford Blake as the DCP in charge of admini-stration and support services. Blake has been transferred to the operations portfolio, taking over from Glenmore Hinds, the man who acted as police commissioner for several weeks, following the departure of Owen Ellington.

Hinds is now the head of the Criminal Investigation Branch.

Assistant Commissioner Carlton Wilson has been brought back on the frontline, after a long stint at the Inspectorate of Constabulary Branch. Reports are that he has been tasked to head the National Intelligence Bureau, which is located in downtown Kingston. He was responsible for some of the major successes at the Narcotics Division, putting away some of the top drug dealers. Wilson will take over from ACP Kevin Blake, who has been transferred to Area 3.

ACP Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight who was in charge of Area 3, is taking over command of Area 5, formerly headed by Grant. Head of Area 1, ACP Warren Clarke, has been transferred to Borders and Vital Infrastructural Security, which is located on the grounds of Harmon Barracks, Up Park Camp.

The Gleaner understands that ACP Paul Ferguson, who was one of several high-ranking officers working out of the Inspectorate of Constabulary Branch, will take command of Area 1.