National Security C.E.O. Speaks on Police Officers’ Transfers

Earlier this month, Supreme Court Justice Courtenay Abel dismissed an application for judicial review filed by three police officers who were challenging their transfers from the Orange Walk Police formation.  Their transfers came after police up north made a huge cocaine bust which led to the subsequent arrest of Orange Walk’s former commander, Superintendent David Chi and P.C. Norman Anthony.  It was then said that the new commander, ASP Juanito Cocom, was cleaning up the formation. According to the officers, the first letter informing them of their imminent transfer did not contain a reason.  The officers, through their attorney, wrote to the Commissioner of Police but no response was forthcoming. It is when the matter was before the court that a second letter was sent to the officers informing the official reasons why they were being transferred. In his ruling, Justice Abel expressed that it would have been desirable, reasonable and appropriate to actually consult with these officers before the transfer orders were actually made. Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of National Security, Retired Colonel George Lovell, addressed the matter.

George Lovell

(Ret.) Col. George Lovell, C.E.O., Ministry of National Security

“We have clear rules and regulations that govern transfers. The public service regulation is quite clear. It speaks to an individual being given notice in January to March of each year and the transfer takes place in June, July of that same year unless it is for exigencies of service and so whenever you would move someone outside of that time and it’s clearly an exigent of service that should be clearly stipulated in that transfer letter or anything that is given to that individual. It seems as if though while the individual was told that these things were not clearly stipulated in writing and given to the individuals and our people do use that against the system but I think the Police Department and the Ministry have learned from that experience and I am looking forward to all the transfers that will come as a result of that experience that we have had.”