COP set to retire soon

The hunt will soon be on for a new Commissioner of Police.

That’s because the island’s top cop, Tyrone Griffith is set to retire after a career spanning more than 35 years in the Royal Barbados Police Force.

Reports reaching Barbados TODAY are that the 66-year-old Griffith could be riding off into the sunset at the end of this month.

While Attorney General Dale Marshall confirmed that Griffith was nearing the age of retirement, he could not give a specific date when he would step down.

Marshall said until Griffith gives official notice of his intention to resign no replacement will be named.

“Yes, the Commissioner of Police is nearing his retirement age. I leave it to him to speak about when specifically that will be but it is a natural process. We all get older and a statutory age limit is reached and we regrettably have to part ways with the institution. The commissioner has served us very well and I leave him to address the issue of his retirement at a time and date convenient to him.

“It would be inappropriate until the commissioner makes his exit to really talk about a replacement. There is never to be a sense that anybody in as important a post as a Commissioner of Police is to become a lame-duck person, a lame-duck Commissioner of Police. That as you know is the situation which persists when you have an incumbent who is considered to be on his way out and therefore, you don’t expect them to do much.

I know the commissioner will be working up until his very last day,” Marshall told Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of the official re-opening ceremony of the St Joseph Outpatient Clinic this morning.

“The Police Service Commission will consider the matter of promotions as and when that time arises, but before that time comes I don’t propose to comment on it.”

Griffith joined the RBPF in 1975 and his appointment to the post of Commissioner of Police came into effect on October 1, 2017.

He had acted in the post from 2013 following the suspension of then Commissioner of Police Darwin Dottin from duties.

Griffith’s promotion did not come without controversy, though, as prior to his appointment in 2017, a stipulation issued by Government’s Chief Personnel Officer maintained that the new Commissioner of Police was expected to hold an academic degree and completed management training at a police academy or college, among other requirements.

At the time Griffith did not meet those academic qualifications.  (randybennett@barbadostoday.bb)