"Speculative rumours": Mitchell defends Commissioner's integrity

Following the unexpected announcement of the impending retirement of Police Commissioner Owen Ellington, Earl Moxam spoke on Monday, July 7 with Howard Mitchell, a spokesman for the outcoing commissioner, about the reasons for this decision and about the damage that Mr. Ellington's reputation might be suffering as a consequence.

See the text of part one of the interview below. You may also access the audio of this portion of the interview by clicking on the arrow above.

EM:  Mr. Mitchell, speaking as the spokesperson for the Commissioner of Police, how do you respond to the public perception that this matter of his sudden retirement, the explanation  given, does not meet the public’s own standard for such actions to be taken?

HM: Let me say, first of all that the retirement… may appear to be sudden to the public, but his retirement has been spoken of for some time now with his responsible minister, so it wasn’t a surprise to the Minister. Mr. Ellington has been in the force for 34 years, five years as Commissioner. He has spoken openly in the past of his intention, not to spend more than five years in the job. Having said that, I am aware that there is a public perception that the departure is not only sudden, but is suspicious and that it requires some degree of explanation.  All I can say is that the Commissioner has stated his reasons in his press release… But his purpose and his reason is (sic) contained entirely in that press release.

EM: The problem, in the meantime, is that because of the seeming lack of acceptance of those explanations, there is a vacuum that is being filled with additional information that does not pertain to the explanation given by the Commissioner, or the Minister, for that matter. Therefore, how do you respond to some of the additional allegations that have been made?

HM: First of all, I would be very happy to respond to clarifications of the reasons he gave in his press release, and we can speak to some of the circumstances and the context of those reasons that he gave in his press release. But additionally, in respect of the other speculative rumours that have occurred, we deny them completely. We deny any negative inference that is drawn and his lawyers are at the moment reviewing what action they can take in respect of those speculative rumours.

EM: One of those relate to a newspaper article on Monday in the Gleaner newspaper, speaking of someone who has been indicted in the United States.

HM: We are concerned about it because it is reputational damage to a man who has dedicated his life to the particular profession that he’s in. We are concerned about it because the logic of it is similar to somebody saying that because the Pope of the Catholic Church has a friend who participated in sexual abuse of little boys, that he may be implicated. There is absolutely no logical connection! However, our lawyers are looking into it and will respond.

EM: And, at this point, can you speak for him and say that he denies any such connection or any such inference?

HM: Categorically, I am saying that he denies any inference in respect of the publication in the newspaper, any negative inference, any knowledge of, any dealing with or any relationship to the particular incident that has been alleged.

NOTE: You may access the audio for this portion of the interview by clicking on the arrow above.