IN LESS THAN A YEAR SERVICE, JAMAICA’S POLICE COMMISSIONER GEORGE QUALLO, IS QUITTING THE JOB!

Observer staff reporter—

POLICE Commissioner George Quallo has decided he will leave the job in a matter of weeks.

According to sources close to Quallo, the commissioner, who has been under fire in recent weeks, has been in discussion with the Police Service Commission over this past week.

Earlier this month, Quallo denied a Jamaica Observer report that he was leaving the job after facing heat from National Security Minister Robert Montague over the embarrassing six-hour traffic gridlock along the Palisadoes road in Kingston on January 1, which led to flight delays at Norman Manley International Airport as well as caused some passengers to miss flights.

Quallo, who has less than a year’s service as head of the constabulary, was summoned to a meeting at the security minister’s office in Kingston.

At that meeting, Commissioner Quallo was accompanied by some members of the executive of the Police Officers’ Association (POA) who came out in a show of support for the commissioner. The POA members did not actually participate in the meeting, however.

Sources in the National Security Ministry had told the Observer then that the commissioner was informed that it was time to examine his options during the meeting, which lasted for approximately 10 minutes.

It was later learnt that after rejecting the option to resign, Quallo decided to continue his duties as commissioner until his retirement becomes official later this year. Police officers retire at age 60 or can opt for early retirement after serving for 30 years.