ERROL Strong has been appointed chairman of the Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA) by the governor general. His appointment took effect on February 12 of this year.

Strong’s appointment comes in the wake of the resignation of Professor Anthony Harriott as chairman of the authority, which became effective on February 1.

Strong, a justice of the peace, has been serving as a member of the authority since November 3, 2016.

A retired assistant commissioner of police, he brings to the table more than 40 years of experience in the field of security, serving in the capacity of security liaison officer at the Embassy of Jamaica in Washington, DC, among other positions. He is also a former chairman of the Firearm Licensing Authority.

In the meantime, the members constituting the authority remain the same — Dr Marshall Hall, Pastor Glen Samuels, Jacqueline Hinkson; Professor Anthony Harriott, and Gladstone Lewars. The tenure of the authority will end August 22, 2021.

PCOA was established by an Act of Parliament in 2005 as a mechanism to support external scrutiny and accountability of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.