Police Officer’s Promotion Rescinded: Legal Battle Ahead. The JCF promoted a police detective to sergeant, but the authorities withdrew the promotion a day later. The officer is now fighting to regain her title.
Police Officer’s Promotion Rescinded. Detective Constable Alicia Hutchinson has hired an attorney. The attorney has written to Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake. The letter hints at legal action.
“Our client would prefer to focus on criminal investigations and intelligence gathering. She does not want to fight in court with the organization for which she enjoys working,” her attorney, Donovan Collins, said in the letter, according to The Gleaner.
Hutchinson works at the Manchester Police Department. She was among 16 officers the authorities promoted to sergeant on September 19, 2024.
The authorities announced Officer Hutchinson’s promotion in the JCF Force Orders, the official internal communication newsletter for Jamaica Constabulary members.
The Police Officer’s Promotion Reversal has caused her emotional distress.
But Collins reported that the next day, Deputy Superintendent Carey Duncan of the Manchester Police informed Hutchinson that her promotion had been a mistake. The Police High Command had rescinded it.
In his letter, Collins claimed Duncan told Hutchinson he was acting on the instructions of the Police High Command.
The authorities later confirmed Officer Hutchinson’s promotion’s reversal in the Force Orders published on September 26, 2024.
“The promotion appearing for [regulation number redacted] D/Cons Alicia K Hutchinson … to the rank of sergeant is canceled.” This was stated in the Force Orders.
Police Officer’s Promotion Rescinded”To avoid doubt, the member remains a D/Cons.”
The reversal has caused Hutchinson “great humiliation” and “severe emotional distress,” according to her attorney.
Nearly four months later, on January 12 this year, Hutchinson received a plaque for her “committed and dedicated service to the Manchester Division Criminal Investigation Branch.”
2015, a St James Parish Court judge cleared Hutchinson of corruption charges. These charges were related to the 2013 escape of an individual in custody at the Freeport Police Station.
She allegedly collected $200,000 from the detainee’s girlfriend to help with his release in January 2013.
However, after a trial, Resident Magistrate Carolyn Tie ruled that prosecutors had not proved the case against Hutchinson.
The commanding officer for the Manchester Police declined to comment on the reason for the reversal. He noted that “promotions are in the purview of the commissioner of police.”
“The commissioner promotes or demotes. I can’t comment on that,” he said.
The lawyer believes his client is being victimized
Police Officer’s Promotion Rescinded. Collins believes his client is being victimized by allegations previously tested in court and subsequently dismissed. He argues that this situation violates constitutional rights and other laws.
He referenced Section 16(5) of the Constitution. It states that every individual charged with a criminal offense is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
According to Collins, Hutchinson has remained on suspension for over two years following the dismissal of the charges.