KINGSTON, Jamaica — Senior Superintendent of Police Wayne Cameron was returned as chairman of the Police Officers’ Association (POA).

The decision was made during the POA’s annual general meeting last Thursday.

New members were also elected during the meeting. They include vice chairman, Deputy Superintendent of Police St George Jackson, members Superintendent of Police Eron Samuels and Superintendent of Police Richard Hylton. Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police Maldria Jones Williams and Senior Superintendent of Police Christopher Phillips were returned as secretary/treasurer and assistant secretary/treasurer respectively.

Following his reinstatement, SSP Cameron said this year’s general meeting was the best attended in recent times and used the opportunity to honour some of the nation’s best service men and women.

“This year’s AGM was the most largely attended AGM in the POA’s history with over two hundred attendees, and the first time where all members of the Chaplaincy were in attendance, as well as the first ever AGM with many Detectives in attendance,” he said, before leading his team into the recognition ceremony.

Among the officers honoured were; the first woman motorcyclist in the JCF’s history, Ionie Ramsay Nelson, Superintendent of Police (Ret’d); the first female Deputy Commissioner of Police and third female Assistant Commissioner of Police Jevene Bent, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ret’d); the fifth female Assistant Commissioner of Police Millicent Sproul-Thomas, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ret’d); the first female Chairman of the POA, fourth female Assistant Commissioner of Police and the second female Deputy Commissioner of Police, Novelette Grant, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ret’d); the first Member of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) to be Commandant of the ISCF, Osmond Bromfield, Commandant Island Special Constabulary Force.

According to a release on Monday, recognition was also given to stalwarts of the POA who served as chairmen, including Charles Simpson, Senior Superintendent of Police (Ret’d); Michael James, Senior Superintendent of Police (Ret’d); Leon Rose Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ret’d); Glenford Hudson Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ret’d); and Norman Heywood Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ret’d). Reverend Courtney Walters (Ret’d Chaplain) was also honoured for his commitment to the POA over his years of service.

The Chairman also used the meeting to invite attendees to pay tribute to colleagues and loved ones who died in the line of duty, including the late Superintendent Leon Clunis. Clunis was one of four cops who were shot during a police operation in Horizon Park, Spanish Town, St Catherine on June 12, 2020.

This year’s general meeting was held under the theme, “Promoting the Health, Wealth and Wellness of a Force for Good”.

Chairman Cameron informed the AGM that “the theme was carefully selected and crafted based on some observations made, including many instances where Officers proceed into retirement not in good health and worse not in good financial standing, as well as Officers were dying within one to five years of retirement.”