ComPol Williams Evokes God in Self Defense after Criticism of Promotion Process Surfaces

Chester Williams

Commissioner Chester Williams also responded to heavy criticism that has been thrown at him by members of his very own department.  Those criticisms deal with a reported level of unfairness and favouritism linked to the police promotion exercise.  Hundreds of officers who sat the exam in May failed.  Only one hundred and ninety-four officers were successful, making them eligible in being promoted to corporal, sergeant or inspector.  Some officers were called back to participate in an interview, which decided if they would be promoted.  And this is the root of the criticism.  According to some police officers, those who were interviewed and later promoted were only chosen because they have exhibited some sort of allegiance to the commissioner.  Williams today refuted such claims, saying that the promotion exercise is an objective process.

Hipolito Novelo

“Sir I think one of the criticisms when it comes to the promotion process is that there seems to a level of unfairness and favoritism when it comes to the interview, certain persons who are called back to the interview and promoted and others don’t because they feel that they are not favored by the commander.”

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“I would want to think that if God would come down and do the promotion he would be criticized. It is human nature and I will accept the criticism but refute its contents because that is not the way how it works. I believe that the promotion process was fair and all those persons who were promoted were duly deserved. I do admit as I said before yes there were others who were deserving as well but we don’t have the vacancies. My thing to them is to keep working and as soon as there are additional vacancies we will do another one and they will be considered. The process for promotion is an objective one. There are a number of persons who are close to me and they were not promoted and they are deserving as well. I believe in being fair and I can tell you that there are a number of persons who have opposed me in the past and I promoted them because they are entitled to their promotion. I don’t promote people because they like me or because they are friends with me. I promote you base one your merit. It is not whether or not the officers like me or they are close to me,   it is about what they can bring to the table in order to enhance the level of service that we offer to the public.”