Former Police Commissioner Stephen Williams weighs in on the High Court's order to quash and restart the promotion process for Assistant Superintendent of Police.
This ruling came after Inspector Mark Hernandez challenged the process, which he said gave officers who may not be suited for the position an unfair opportunity to be promoted.
Former Commissioner Williams says while he does not agree with everything the court said, it is obvious there are some flaws in the process.
00:00According to Justice Frank Sipisad, the TTPS appraisal system was fundamentally compromised.
00:07However, former Police Commissioner Stephen Williams tells the Morning Edition, there are always issues with promotion exercises.
00:15Some of the comments may have been, I would say, a bit overly done.
00:23Some of the comments seem to be fair comment.
00:28But, you know, promotion always brings with it challenges.
00:36And in this particular instance, the challenge to this promotion assessment for assistant superintendents has resulted in some serious flaws being shown up through the assessment of the court.
00:53Judge Sipisad further stated that giving the blanket award of the performance appraisal grade of outstanding to each candidate seeking the position of ASP undermined Parliament's intent.
01:05Adding that this failure to adhere to the regulatory mandate corrupted the process as officers who may not have been properly appraised and who may not have had a minimum score of 60 points may have advanced to the promotional assessment stage.
01:20However, former Commissioner Williams tells us it's not about the process being fundamentally wrong.
01:26He says promotion is a significant issue for all police officers.
01:31And once an officer is dissatisfied with the results, he or she has every right to challenge the process.
01:38Many instances they will challenge and fail.
01:41And there are a few instances they will challenge and may succeed.
01:46And in this particular instance, the challenge has been successful.
01:50But a police officer generally promotion means a higher rank promotion means an increase in his remuneration package and status.
02:04So, you know, if you go into the promotion assessment process and it doesn't turn out the best for you, many officers will challenge.
02:16He is suggesting that the matter is addressed within the TTPS expeditiously, noting that how the acting top cop, Junior Benjamin moves forward is most critical.
02:27For me, by way of suggestion is that so many officers are adversely affected by this decision.
02:36It's critical that he calls the police association into a meeting and come up with a decision that, you know, in a very timely and I would also put speedily manner address the issue of going forward with the promotion of the officers for the rank of assistant superintendent.
03:02He notes promotions have been made for all other areas of the first division except assistant superintendents.
03:09Over 100 police inspectors hoping for that promotion now have to await a restart of the process.
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