Complaining Cops say Politicians are behind treatment of Deputy Commissioner Wade as ‘outside child’

Some members of the Police Force are asking that politicians stop using the commissioner to sideline his deputy, who, they claim, might be the only senior officer in the hierarchy who properly understands leadership and administration. 

The disgruntled officers are alleging that Deputy Commissioner Albert Wade is being dealt  with “like an outside child mistreated by a hateful step mother” –  to the chagrin of the rank and file who respect him for keeping the morale of the Force alive.

According to inside sources, the politically motivated disaffection and disunity in the Force was on display last Friday, July 24, when the Police Sports Club held its annual general meeting (AGM), at the Multipurpose Cultural Centre, to elect the heads of all its sporting bodies.

All members of the Force were invited, the sources say – although they claim that information on the meeting was shared only on Thursday, the day prior. 

They note that Deputy Commissioner Wade had gone on sick leave a week before, but duly showed up at the  AGM in uniform, arriving ahead of Commissioner Everton Jeffers and taking his seat at the head table.

It is alleged that, after the commissioner arrived – but before he called the meeting to order – he called Wade aside, reminded the deputy that he is on sick leave, and stressed that he, the commissioner, did not want any problems with the “authorities.”

Reportedly, Wade deferred to the commissioner and attempted to leave the head table and sit among the rank and file. However – apparently realizing the embarrassing position he was about to place himself in – the commissioner then invited his deputy to remain.

It is further alleged that Wade later asked permission of the chairman, Inspector Frankie Thomas, to speak to his fellow officers as it happened to be his birthday. 

Allegedly, Inspector Thomas took Wade's request to the commissioner, who – despite the earlier olive branch – denied it and said that Wade could not address the membership. 

Thomas is said to have advised the meeting of the decision and the membership then warmly sang "Happy Birthday" to the deputy commissioner. 

The complaining officers are convinced that the political directorate is manipulating operations and relationships in the Force,  and so they are calling on the politicians to “keep their hands off.”