The Police Department is going through significant changes at the highest levels. Commissioner Gerald Westby has announced promotions for 16 senior officers. Included among them are new Assistant Commissioner Allen Whylie, new Senior Superintendents Chester Williams, David Henderson, and new Superintendents Joseph Myvette and Gualberto Garcia. Four senior women officers were also promoted. Included among them are new Senior Superintendent Yolanda Murray, Superintendent Louise Willis Assistant Superintendent Desiree Phillips and Acting Inspector Corrine Jacobs to Inspector.
These come as two veterans of the department, Assistant Commissioner Edwardo Wade and Inspector Leslie Logan have retired. The Commissioner of Police say it's part of bringing in the new guard as the old guard heads off to retirement.
Gerald Westby, Commissioner of Police
"We want to reemphasize that we are very much a team, I believe in team leadership and we will continue to work together."
Jules Vasquez,
Your critics would say that in fact that many of the changes that you are making are arbitrary and have to do with your personal favorites and are not based on the respective strengths of the officers who are receiving your promotion. How do you respond to that criticism?
Gerald Westby,
"Well you understand me Jules it is not that when you are making promotions you will have appease everybody. But you must understand that promotions are done in consultations with the Promotional Board and this is the way it is done. It is done on performance and it is done on other criteria and certainly we look at the best persons for a particular area who will be best able to do the work and that is the way it has been done.
Certainly there are more deserving but there are only limited vacancies and as soon as the course progress, other people will be promoted but you have to continue work hard. And the point is that promotions is a factor but I think people ought to be satisfied by performing and continuing to do good work and it will certainly not go unnoticed down the road."
Taking the retiring Edwardo Wade's place as an Assistant Commissioner is Allen Whylie. He also takes over the Eastern Division from Crispin Jeffries. He told us that he'll take a no nonsense approach.
ACP Allen Whylie, Commander - Eastern Division
"I wish to reassure the law abiding citizens that under my administration we will continue to be relentless in our efforts to identify, interdict, and prevent those bent on criminality whilst maintaining a customer friendly approachable demeanor with the public.
Crime remains my primary focus and we will be reviewing our method of operation. We will be increasing on our initiative of stop and search efforts. We will be stepping up on our raids on targets based on targets, based on intelligence,
and we will be seeking ways to heighten police visibility in strategic areas whilst targeting those hardened criminals via fast track prosecution of their cases before the courts, utilizing the prosecution branch."
Whylie's second in charge will be former CIB boss Chester Williams. Acting Superintendent Aaron Guzman will take over the CIB Department.
