I have seen several responses to the Jamaicans For Justice’s (JFJ’s) call for the resignation of Police Commissioner Owen Ellington and overwhelmingly they disagree with the call. Some of the responses are even disrespectful and venomous to the human rights organisation.

I am not here joining the call for a particular resignation but I share the point of the JFJ that the increasing numbers of homicides and police killings are worrying developments. I also believe that someone or some entities should be held accountable for these obvious failures.

I got the impression from most of the objections to the call by the JFJ that people agree that someone or some entities are failing at their job. I came to that view because no well-thinking person could reasonably accept that we are doing a good job at controlling crime in the society. Where people took exception is mainly to the specific call for the resignation of the police commissioner.

Some contend that even with these deplorable crime statistics he is doing a good job. What is not clear is, if not the alarming crime statistics, what is the basis of their evaluation of his performance?

I hold no brief for the JFJ, but I doubt that their call for the resignation of the police commissioner is a personal one. It is my interpretation that they are disappointed with the less than acceptable crime rate and are demanding that those with crime management responsibilities be held accountable.

The JFJ is bold enough to identify and call out those they perceive as responsible. What is mainly missing from those who object to the call is, if not the police commissioner, who should be held accountable? I hope they are not of the view that we should proceed with the same people doing the same things and achieving the same appalling crime results.

I firmly believe that to bring crime to an acceptable level in the country will take more resources than those currently available to the commissioner of police. This view, incidentally, supports the contention of those who come to his defence.

The issue for the commissioner, however, is that he set his own targets and has not realised them. He would be well aware of the situation that he is confronted with and the resources at his command when setting those targets.

Criticism of him is therefore inescapable and depends on one’s tolerance and patience. The call for his resignation is therefore not unreasonable.

However, the bigger issue, as I see it, relates to the general mindset of the Jamaican society. We have a culture that is more inclined to sympathise than one that is steeped in accountability. It is all part of the “low di yute, yuh nuh see him a try” syndrome.

The underperforming responsible person is then left unmolested to keep trying forever with no consequences for his failure until he happily grows old and retires. He is then showered with all kinds of accolades about how dedicated and affable he was.

He then rides off into the sunset and is likely to resurface as a politician or in a position that reflects political favour. I hold no such expectation of this commissioner, but history is replete with the scenario outlined here.

It is never a pleasant experience, as a hard-working public official who is given basket to carry water, to be singled out and maligned for unacceptable performance. It is the duty of that public official, however, to clarify his performance.

I believe, for example, that at current crime levels the police force establishment should be at least 30,000 up from its current 10,000. If the commissioner agrees, he should be shouting loud for it. The intellectual capability of the investigative arm of the force ought to be vastly higher than it is now.

If the commissioner agrees, he should be on public record shouting loudly for that to change. The mobility and the general response capability of the force need to be substantially boosted. If the commissioner agrees, then he should be heard at every opportunity demanding these.

Considering the reluctance of eyewitnesses to testify in court, the forensic capability of the force should be vastly higher than currently obtains. If the commissioner agrees, he should miss no opportunity to publicly demand it. Only then will the focus shift to the real culprit — his boss, the Government.

The calls that are now being made for his resignation would appropriately be shifted to the prime minister and the minister of national security.

ELLINGTON… to bring crime to an acceptable level will take more resources than those currently available to him