Dear Editor,

Yesterday’s edition of the Sunday Observer (September 3, 2017) prominently highlighted the thoughts and the philosophy of former Police Commission Owen Ellington as it relates to tackling the monster that crime has become in our society. But, please forgive me if I take no solace in what Ellington has to say.

While every individual has a right to chart his own life’s course, when you offer yourself for public service you automatically take on additional responsibilities and obligations. On the flip side, there are expectations from the people you serve.

When Commissioner Ellington suddenly and unexpected left the force he left the majority of Jamaicans to wonder why. Until this day I do not believe I have read or heard of a ‘sound’ reason having been given.

If I remember correctly from what I read, on that particular day, he held what I understand to be a regular meeting with his senior officers without any hint of anything amiss. It was reported that after the meeting, later that same day, he announced his resignation.

Maybe I am personally peeved because I had come to repose a great deal of faith and expectation in Commissioner Ellington and suddenly he was gone without explanation.

So my personal position is that until Ellington is forthcoming with a plausible explanation for his departure — albeit retrospectively — I do not wish to hear anything from him about managing crime in Jamaica.

At the same time, I will throw in my lot with those who still stand with the Jamaican people in this fight for our very lives.

Stephen Harrison

St Mary

stepharrison28@gmail.com