Morrison new head of Police Federation
Published:Wednesday | September 7, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
Franz Morrison - only the third constable to hold the position of chairman of the Police Federation in its history - has described his sudden election to that prominent post as a defining moment in his 10-year career.
"It is a really humbling experience just to see how much confidence my fellow executive members have placed in me to put me in this position to be the leader of the federation at this time," 30-year-old Morrison told The Gleaner late yesterday.
The embattled former chairman, Sergeant Raymond Wilson, made way for Morrison yesterday during a hastily convened meeting at the Office of the Police Commissioner.
"I am grateful for the opportunity and am raring to go," he added.
Morrison said he would be meeting with his executive to flesh out the direction the federation would be pursuing.
Wilson yesterday confirmed that he has stepped aside as chairman in the aftermath of a meeting with Police Commissioner Owen Ellington and members of the central executive of the federation.
Wilson's quiet admission to The Gleaner that he had quit after seven years in office was in stark contrast to his attorney's vehement denial a day earlier that he had tendered his resignation.
No word on matter
But there was no word on how the usually tough-talking sergeant was persuaded to step aside. Wilson and other members of the executive were not inclined to speak on the matter.
Wilson declined to say whether he was forced to resign at yesterday's meeting at the commissioner's office.
"With respect, I do not want to go into a lengthy explanation at this time," he told The Gleaner.
Customarily, a member of the federation is voted in as president at its annual general meeting.
Not unlike his predecessors, Wilson's stint at the helm of the federation was marked by testy talks with the Government over wages and fringe benefits.
But yesterday, the fiery policeman would not comment on whether his demise was precipitated by public comments he made against the Government at the federation's annual conference last year.
Chastised for comments
In February of this year, news broke that Wilson had been chastised for comments he had made against the Bruce Golding administration.
He was slapped with internal disciplinary charges by the Police High Command and served with what are described as "draft charges" which outline the various charges being contemplated against him.
The Police Federation chairman was given 14 days within which to respond to the document.
Although Wilson was faced with the prospect of being hauled before a tribunal to be tried, nothing has been heard on the matter since February.