ST JAMES, Jamaica – The first female head of the Jamaica Police Federation, Sergeant Arleen McBean is back at the helm of the organisation she led five years ago.

McBean, who will serve a year in office, was selected during an election which lasted for several hours on Wednesday evening — the final day of the two-day Jamaica Police Federation 81st Conference held at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in St James.

Sergeant Lloyd Duncan, who was returned as an executive member and is the welfare officer, was also elected to serve as general secretary for the federation which represents rank-and-file members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

The executive of the federation is made up of eight members. Prior to the conference two inspectors were elected as executive members by their inspector branch board. The remaining six positions — two sergeants, two corporals, and two constables — were elected on Wednesday by more than 400 police delegates, the largest in the history of the 84-year-old federation.

As is customary, the eight who make up the executive later caucused to elect the chairman and general secretary.

Sergeant McBean was first elected to the post in May of 2018 but in January of 2019 she was voted out of office by members who raised issues about her leadership of the organisation. However, the Supreme Court ruled in March of that year that she should be immediately reinstated.

With Wednesday’s vote, McBean replaces Inspector Blanche Codner who was elected chairman in March. Codner replaced Corporal Rohan James who had been at odds with the police high command and was interdicted over remarks he made in July last year at a colleague’s funeral.

– Anthony Lewis.