REQUEST FOR CONTRACT EXTENSION; LAW

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
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