Almost a week after Police Commissioner Owen Ellington stunned the country with news of his retirement, Jamaicans are still speculating about the real reason for his sudden departure.

Rumours have been flying thick and fast, suggesting that most people do not believe National Security Minister Peter Bunting’s news release on the matter last Monday.

“Commissioner Ellington has indicated that his decision to retire is based on the need to separate himself from the leadership and management of the [police] force prior to the commencement of the upcoming Commission of Enquiry into the conduct of the operations of the security forces in Western Kingston and other areas during the limited state of emergency in 2010,” Bunting’s news release said.

“In addition, he believes it will allow the Independent Commission of Investigations, (INDECOM) to conduct its investigation into allegations of police-involved killings in the Clarendon Division (some of which occurred during his tenure) without any perception of influence or interference on his part,” the release added.

But late last week, as Government officials remained mum on the bombshell announcement, a highly-placed source with intimate knowledge of State affairs likened Bunting’s release to an attempt at diplomacy.

Last Monday, before the news of Ellington’s retirement was made public, the commissioner had his usual early morning meeting with the constabulary’s Executive Management Board.

After that meeting he met with his deputy commissioners and informed them of his decision.

Bunting, in his release, said that Deputy Commissioner Glenmore Hinds has been appointed to act as commissioner of police effective, Tuesday, July 1, while the Police Service Commission begins the process of appointing a new police chief.