COMMISSIONER of Police Lucius Thomas yesterday dismissed rumours that he had thrown in the towel because of disagreements with the new Jamaica Labour Party Government and the national security minister, Derrick Smith.

Thomas yesterday formally announced at a police divisional commanders’ meeting at the Police Officers Club in Kingston that he would be retiring at the end of the month.

“I dismiss that 150 per cent. There is no rift between us, we have an excellent working relationship,” Thomas told reporters after yesterday’s meeting with his divisional heads.

The speculation of a possible rift with the new government surfaced yesterday, especially after the commissioner’s announcement came on the heels of a security ministry statement Tuesday that the head of the Jamaica Defence Force, Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin, would be proceeding on retirement on October 27.

Thomas, who has served the constabulary for 39 years, served as commissioner for two years and nine months.

He also served as the deputy commissioner in charge of crime, head of the Criminal Investigation Branch, and worked extensively in the parishes of Trelawny and St James.

Yesterday, Thomas told reporters that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

“I decided to call it quits at the end of October. I have done my introspection and this is where we are at. I think of my two sons who I did not spend quality time with. I now have four grandchildren and I think I owe them,” Thomas said.

An officer who attended the closed-door meeting told the Observer that a “deathly silence fell” over the meeting when Thomas made the announcement and that tears streamed down the faces of some female officers.

Head of the Constabulary Communication Network, Superintendent Iona Ramsay, admitted that she was overwhelmed and cried.

“It knocked me out. I cried,” Ramsay said. “He is a genuine person who does things from his heart. Today, I appreciate him more than yesterday. He is a decent man.”

Superintendent Calvin Benjamin, the second in command at the Major Investigation Task Force, said he, too, was surprised.

“The announcement caught us by surprise. The force has lost a great individual and commendations must go out. He is a people person who all officers wanted to be associated with,” Benjamin said.

During Thomas’ tenure, major moves were made to modernise the force when the constabulary acquired the modern Automatic Fingerprint Information System (AFIS), and the Integrated Ballistics Information System (IBIS).

Thomas also spearheaded an anti-corruption drive which saw at least 50 cops being dismissed from the force during his first year in office. Under his watch the Professional Standards Branch (PSB), a merger of police internal investigation units, was also established.

Thomas was also responsible for a community policing initiative and adopted an open door policy which made him accessible to rank-and-file officers as well as members of the public.

The outgoing police chief, in the meantime, called on members of the public to assist whoever succeeds him in helping to decrease the island’s high crime rate.

“We need a better working relationship between citizens and the police. Men carrying high-powered rifles cannot terrorise a community and they stand up and say nothing about it. We cannot police it without the citizens,” he said.

He said he was satisfied that he had given his best while serving the constabulary, especially as head of the force.

“Thank you Jamaica,” he said before retiring to share a drink with his colleagues at a bar at the officers club.