POLICE Commissioner Owen Ellington yesterday announced the transfer of several senior officers, which he said was necessary to fill vacancies due to retirement and to promote the development of officers in the force.

The transfers become effective on December 12. Among the officers being transferred is tough crime fighter Senior Superintendent Derrick ‘Cowboy’ Knight, who has been relieved of the command of the St Andrew Central Division and promoted to commanding officer for Police Area 3, which includes the divisions of St Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon.

He takes over the reins from Assistant Commissioner Derrick Cochrane who will be going on retirement soon. Knight, who had a scare recently when his unmarked service vehicle was shot at by members of a police patrol in Kingston, will be replaced at the St Andrew Central Division by Senior Superintendent Fitz Bailey, who has been replaced as head of the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID).

Superintendent Clifford Chambers, who headed the Fraud Squad, will take charge at OCID, while Superintendent McArthur Sutherland will take up duties at the Major Investigation Task Force. Superintendent Marlon Nesbeth, who was in charge of the Firearms Training and Tactical Unit, has been transferred to the Manchester Division, replacing Superintendent Lascelles Taylor, who will be going on retirement.

Ellington, at the same time, announced the appointment of Superintendents Andrew Lewis as divisional commander for St James and Noel Christie as the divisional commander for Trelawny. Superintendent Merrick Watson will be moving from the Jamaica Police Academy to head the St Thomas Division, while Superintendent Egbert Parkins is being transferred from St James to the St Ann Division.

Deputy Superintendent Carol McKenzie moves from the St Andrew North Division to Westmoreland, while commander of the St Ann Division Superintendent Dudley Scott has been sent to Area 2.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Michael Smith is the new commandant of the Jamaica Police Academy, moving from his position as commander for St Thomas, while Superintendent Dermoth Lawrence moves from Westmoreland to the St Andrew Central Police Division, and Deputy Superintendent Steve Green will leave the Clarendon Division to take charge of the Motorised Patrol Division.

Other transfers announced yesterday by the commissioner in the weekly Force Orders, include Deputy Superintendent Dalton Wright, who moves from Portland to St Andrew North, and Deputy Superintendent Errol Thompson who will be leaving Trelawny to St Catherine South.

Deputy Superintendent Gary Flash has also been transferred from the Portland Division to the neighbouring Division of St Thomas. Flash had been assigned to the Portland Division since his entry into the force decades ago and has moved up the ranks from constable to deputy superintendent.