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Reneto Adams
With the nation in need of a top cop and applications already being tendered for the post of police commissioner, one group has taken the 'campaign' to the Internet with a web page advocating that the task be handed to former Senior Superintendent of Police, Reneto Adams.
The web page entitled 'Adams for Commissioner 2010' is featured on the popular social networking site, Facebook.com and has a growing membership of over 2,200 members, a figure that jumps by large increments every 30 minutes.
The creator of the group, who is not affiliated with Adams, said the forum was started on Friday night at about 10pm.
Since then she says the numbers are staggering. "I'm not the first one to start an Adams support group, but I'm overwhelmed by the numbers," she said. "I am a Jamaican who lives in Jamaica and is tired of the level of crime here and want to see an end to it ... . I believe that he (Adams) has the passion that can strategically bring that change."
The young woman said the page was created just to share that view. Surprisingly, a large number of other persons with Internet access share that view, including the man of the hour himself, Reneto Decardova Valentino Adams.
Speaking with THE STAR yesterday, the retired cop and hopeful police commissioner said that he was delighted after actually visiting the site on Monday night.
"I'm very excited where the website and numbers are concerned," Adams said. "When people think you would be a good commissioner it's a good thing. It shows that you have their support and co-operation. Once you have that then the intelligence will come."
The controversial lawman said that while he is not bragging, the members in the support group is coming from just a small per cent of the populace with Internet access. He said the issue of him being appointed in the position is also a hot topic in barber shops, hair salons and markets.
Asked if he was confident he would be successful with his application, Adams responded: "If they really want a commissioner to get the job done, then look in my direction. (However) If you want a commissioner that is ceremonial and just sits in the office, don't look in my direction ... because I will be out there with my men on operations. Not saying I would be out there all the time."
The lawman stressed that no Jamaican is satisfied hearing that the police caught the man who robbed or murdered a relative, despite whatever closure that may bring. "Prevention is my thing. Jamaicans want to hear that the police prevented that crime from happening," he said.
Adams said that although his track record of pursuing criminals is outstanding there are factors that might prevent him from being chosen for the post.
"For one, I wouldn't be protecting any hierarchy of anyone ... there are politics and politicians who may not want to see me as commissioner because they won't be able to have me as they would want to," he said. "Then there is plain envy and those local and international criminal or human rights groups that may also object. For those reasons I may not be selected."
The outgoing commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin tendered his resignation last month following weeks of speculation that the crime chief and the Government were at odds. The resignation ended a two-year run for the retired army man and marked the end of the tenure for the nation's 26th police commissioner.
