Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas (left) is greeted with jokes from his colleagues (from second left) Superintendent Wilford Gayle, DSP Clinton Laing, DSP Robert White and wife, Superintendent Coulbourne White, at the Police Officers' Club in St. Andrew yesterday. The Police Commissioner has officially announced his retirement from the Jamaica Constabulary Force. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas, who officially announced his retirement yesterday afternoon at a meeting with members of the officer core of the Jamaica Constabulary Force at the Police Officers' Club on Hope Road, St. Andrew, left many sombre and shocked faces.
"I attended the offices of the (Police) Services Commission this (yesterday) morning and spoke to the chairman and handed him a letter in which I'm deciding to call it quits at the end of October," Mr. Thomas said, confirming a report in The Gleaner yesterday that he would be stepping down in a matter of weeks.
Tears
Indeed, tears stained some of the faces of the officers, with some of them expressing their admiration for the 38-year veteran of the force.
Other senior officers expressed surprise and attributed praise to the commissioner, who they described as a man who always had a listening ear and an open door for members of the force.
"He had always said that he was going to have a short stint, and in my opinion it was a good and effective stint, he will always be remembered, as far as I am concerned, as the most genuine commissioner that I have served," said Superintendent Steve McGregor, head of the St James Division.
"His accessibility to the members and his humility and his capacity to galvanise and motivate persons," was what Deputy Commissioner of Police Charles Scarlett believed would be Thomas' lasting legacy.
If what some members of the force say is anything to go by, it would seem as if the outgoing Thomas was a popular boss. When The Gleaner visited his offices on Old Hope Road in St. Andrew, persons moved about listlessly on the compound, obviously aware of the news. One female constable said he was a good person and a good leader, while another simply said "We don't want him to go, we want our commissioner."
Thomas fact file
Lucius Thomas was born in the parish of St. Ann in 1949.
He joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force in 1969, at age 20.
Served in Mobile Reserve as a young rookie and the Kingston Central Division. He spent over 25 years at Special Branch.
His first promotion was in 1977, when he was promoted to corporal; six years later he became a sergeant. He was rewarded again four years later when he was promoted to Inspector. In 1989 Thomas became Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent in 1991, full Superintendent in 1996, Senior Superintendent in 1998 and Assistant Commissioner in 1999. In 2001 he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in charge of the crime portfolio.
In 2005 he was promoted to Commissioner of Police.
