US embassy cable - 05KINGSTON466

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000466 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/PPC 
ALSO FOR INL/LP/CAR AND WHA/CAR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, KCRM, JM, corruption 
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR CONTRACT EXTENSION; LAW 
ENFORCEMENT DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR (LEDA), PURDY, DAVID W. 
 
 
1. Summary. The Law Enforcement Development Advisor (LEDA) 
position was established in March 2003 in Kingston, Jamaica. 
LEDA, David W. Purdy, has been working directly with the 
Commissioner, Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), on 
modernization and reform of the JCF.  Mr. Purdy's original 
contract expires in March 9, 2005.  Post request that 
WHA/PPC approve a contract extension for Mr. Purdy through 
June 2006 so that he can pursue the next phase of the law 
enforcement development project. End Summary. 
 
2. To assist Jamaica in building a more professional police 
force, the United States provided ESF funds to support a Law 
Enforcement Development Advisor position (LEDA) within the 
JCF to implement recommendations from the Police Executive 
Research Forum (PERF).  Working directly with the JCF 
Commissioner, the LEDA is advising on how to restructure and 
reform the police and establishing a system of 
accountability and transparency, including stronger internal 
affairs and personnel practices.  Part of the task included 
the implementation of the Police Executive Research Forum 
(PERF) recommendations.  Of the 83 original recommendations, 
progress has been made on 40, with 18 additional built into 
the proposed regionalization and restructuring plan.  8 of 
the recommendations will not be accomplished until funding 
issues are resolved and the final 17 are beyond the 
capability of JCF to influence. 
 
3. The LEDA is attempting to assist the GOJ create a police 
force that is proactive, productive and welcomed throughout 
Jamaica.  The LEDA proposed the creation of a Professional 
Standards Branch reporting directly to the Commissioner 
charged with addressing the serious issue of corruption 
within the JCF.  This unit is nearly developed and is 
projected to become operational in March 2005.  The vetting 
of all JCF units working directly with US components and 
those assigned to highly sensitive areas has been proposed 
and is presently being processed.    In 2004, based on 
recommendations from the LEDA, the JCF implemented a new 
policy on officers' use of deadly force, Published copies of 
the new Human Rights and Use of Force Policy have been 
distributed to every member of the JCF and training on the 
new policy continues as a priority.  In addition, middle and 
upper management officers were introduced to Operational 
Planning Training that required extensive planning and 
supervisory approval prior to the execution of police 
operations.  Further management skills training was provided 
in the areas of accountability, expectations, and effective 
management of resources. 
 
4. The LEDA's management assessment of the JCF revealed the 
need for significant restructuring and the application of 
new management practices designed for accountability, 
effectiveness and efficiency.  This was packaged into a 
regionalization and restructuring plan in October 2003, with 
the active participation and endorsement of the police 
commissioner.   However, the project was subsequently 
assigned to the JCF Corporate Strategy Coordination Unit and 
has since stalled.  Despite support from the government's 
highest officials the project has moved slowly.  In January 
2005 the Commissioner of Police retired and a new 
Commissioner was appointed.  The new Commissioner is 
assessing his options and has expressed cautious interest in 
pursuing the plan, but must be fiscally responsible in his 
selected direction. 
 
5. A significant component of the restructuring included a 
mentoring program for which ESF funds were provided in FY- 
04.  The mentoring project was designed to provide Jamaica 
Constabulary Force management personnel with mentors from 
active management positions abroad to assist in the 
development of staff officer/management skills required to 
support the implementation of the modernization and reform 
strategy.  It was hoped this would commence the summer of 
2005, but the timetable has been pushed back partly due to 
the change in administration.  The Post is optimistic the 
restructuring and regionalization plan will take shape 
during 2005 and the mentor program will support the project. 
However, in pursuing the project, the LEDA identified a need 
for additional mentors for each of the regions (4) and the 
JCF Headquarters (1).  In addition, a necessary component of 
this phase of the project will be contract funds for 
remuneration of a portion of the mentors who will be coming 
from a pool of recently retired police managers (10).  One 
final adjustment would include one additional week for 
travel and relocation for the mentors so as to not diminish 
the actual time in mentorship.  This will be the focus of 
the extension of the LEDA program, plus significant 
management training workshops facilitated by the LEDA at the 
express request of the new commissioner of police.  All of 
the management training and the mentoring will emphasize 
accountability, professional standards, anti-corruption and 
resource management. 
 
6. The U.S. strategy continues to be focused on fighting 
corruption, improving community-police relations, and 
building capacity within the security forces.  An extension 
of the current LEDA, David Purdy, will ensure continuity of 
objectives and benefit from the outstanding professional 
credibility that he has established throughout the Jamaica 
law enforcement community in particular as an advisor to the 
former Commissioner and as a mentor to the current 
Commissioner. 
 
7. Post recommends that the Bureau approve the extension of 
Mr. Purdy's contract through July 2006 so that he can see 
this important component of the mission's law enforcement 
strategy through the next phase. 
 
TIGHE