By Tahna Weston and Kisean Joseph
Former Commissioner of Police Rawlston Pompey has raised major concerns about the legal status of the members of Course 49 who recently graduated from the Sir Wright F George Police Academy, stating they are currently serving as “special constables” rather than as regular police officers.
“The powers and duties of a police officer do not extend to the powers and duties of a special constable,” Pompey explained during an interview on Observer AM.
“They have to be under the command of officers appointed by the Commissioner of Police,” he said.
The realization has caused considerable confusion among the recent graduates themselves. According to Pompey, even the class valedictorian was unaware of his actual status until he heard public discussions about the matter.
“It was only [Monday] morning, having listened to Dr [Jacqui] Quinn’s show, that he realised that he was not a police officer,” Pompey said, describing the situation as “heartbreaking.”
The former commissioner pointed to specific sections of the Police Act to highlight the legal distinctions between regular police officers and special constables. He emphasised that under Section 72 of the Act, special constable appointments can be cancelled at any time, potentially leaving the graduates in a precarious position.
“The [Police Service] Commission may at any time that they think it expedient in the public interest so to do, appoint fit and proper persons to be special constables to act as such for the preservation of the peace and may at any time cancel any appointment so made,” Pompey quoted from the Act, highlighting the temporary nature of their current status.
The situation has sparked concern among the families of the graduates. “A family – a wife and husband – called me with serious concerns about what they listened and heard,” Pompey revealed, indicating the widespread impact of this legal uncertainty.
“I want to say thanks to the Attorney General and thanks to Commissioner Rodney,” he stated, hinting at upcoming actions to address the situation. He expressed confidence that the current administration would take appropriate steps to resolve the matter, noting that “they have never disappointed me.”
The status of these graduates remains a critical issue for the graduates themselves, and their families.
Meanwhile, speaking to Observer media yesterday, Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney strongly refuted suggestions of legal irregularities in the recent police recruitment process, expressing disappointment at former Commissioner Pompey’s public statements about the status of new police graduates.
“There is no legal issue and no incompetence,” Rodney said firmly, addressing recent media discussions. “The process is new to Mr Pompey, but I am disappointed that as my elder and former supervisor, I spoke to him for over an hour on Sunday night and explained the new process, and he still presented the point of view on the media that there were legal issues.”
Rodney said that the transition plan for the 69 recent graduates had been meticulously planned from the outset. “All the dates for the process of having new officers were identified before we spoke,” he explained. “Yet he gave the impression that we are about to ‘fix’ the issue. This is unfortunate.”
Rodney added that the current police administration is well versed in the legal framework governing their operations.
“The Police administration is quite familiar with the Police Act Cap. 330 and will at all times adhere to the principles of the Act,” he assured. “The transition from Special Constable to Police Constable will be completed as planned, and we will deploy our new officers to serve and protect our community.”
The structured recruitment process includes specific phases for recruiting, training, and appointment as full members of the Police Force, all of which were established in advance. This systematic approach ensures proper training and evaluation while maintaining legal compliance, he added.
Commissioner Rodney also expressed optimism about the force’s future, “We are looking forward to the continued support of the community as we strive to provide high-quality police services to our citizens and residents.”
