Police meet over Griffith for CoP today

UPDATE:

FIRST DIVISION police from assistant superintendent to deputy commissioner will meet today in an emergency session with president of the Police Social and Welfare Association Insp Michael Seales to discuss the pending appointment of former National Security Minister Gary Griffith as the next Commissioner of Police.

The association will decide on informing government how it feels about Griffith being at the helm of the Police Service.

Sources said the association is not ruling out seeking legal redress if government moves to appoint Griffith. Yesterday Seales told Newsday his members have advised him not to make any further public statements on Griffith’s appointment, but said there will be three meetings Wednesday.

Seales said before his statement on Sunday about the association’s rejection of Griffith, he sought the views of the membership and they all agreed that politics and policing do not blend. Griffith is a former minister of national security under the PP government and Seales feels there will be internal conflict if Griffith is chosen. Early yesterday, Seales said in a radio programme: “First thing they (police officers) say is, politics and policing don’t mix, and there is no way to discern whether any of his decisions or decision-making process is not akin to a political decision, and that can never be divorced in the minds of the First Division.

“They are feeling marginalised because their views were never fielded to understand whether he is the best choice for them to follow.
“It is going to demoralise the Police Service further than what it is already. What you want is to motivate the Police Service, and it is going to be difficult for him to try and adjust and manage the culture, and in his mission to battle crime he will have to battle with internal issues in the police service.”

Yesterday, several First Division officers told Newsday while they have no problem with Griffith being commissioner, they would have been more comfortable being led by one of their own.
They said government after government had demonstrated to the police that they have more confidence in outsiders rather than officers who came up through the ranks.

They said after their meeting with the Second Division they will decide on the way forward. Some said Griffith should expect some resistance if he is appointed, and will not receive co-operation from the top to the bottom of the service.

Yesterday, contacted by Newsday, Griffith remained mum, saying he could not comment further. Sources said yesterday Griffith’s name appears fourth on the Order of Merit List and President’s House is expected to send his nomination to the House of Representatives for vetting and approval sometime before Friday.

ORIGINAL STORY:

First Division police from assistant superintendent to deputy commissioner will meet today in an emergency session with president of the Police Social and Welfare Association Insp Michael Seales to discuss the pending appointment of former National Security Minister Gary Griffith as the next Commissioner of Police.

The association will decide on informing government how it feels about Griffith being at the helm of the Police Service.

Sources said the association is not ruling out seeking legal redress if government moves to appoint Griffith.

Yesterday Seales told Newsday his members have advised him not to make any further public statements on Griffith’s appointment, but said there will be three meetings today and he will address the issue by Wednesday.