Police Commissioner Owen Ellington has announced the transfers of several senior officers to fill vacancies in the force.

The transfers take effect on December 12, 2012.

Senior Superintendent of Police Derrick Knight is leaving the St Andrew Central Division, to become the commanding officer for Police Area Three which includes the divisions of St Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon.

SSP Knight takes over from Assistant Commissioner Derrick Cochrane who will be going on retirement shortly.

SSP Knight will be replaced at St Andrew Central by SSP Fitz Bailey who is currently the officer in charge of the Organised Crime Investigation Division (OCID).

OCID is now to be managed by Superintendent Clifford Chambers from the Fraud Squad.

Superintendent Marlon Nesbeth who is currently in charge of the Firearms Training and Tactical Unit will take over command of the Manchester Division from Superintendent Lascelles Taylor who is going on retirement.

Commissioner Ellington also confirmed the appointments of Superintendent Andrew Lewis as Divisional Commander for St James and Superintendent Noel Christie as the Divisional Commander for Trelawny.

Meanwhile, Superintendent Merrick Watson is moving from the Jamaica Police Academy to take charge of the St Thomas Division.

Egbert Parkins leaves St James to take command of St Ann and DSP Carol McKenzie leaves the St Andrew North Division to Westmoreland.

Superintendent Dudley Scott who now heads St Ann will be working out of the Area Two Police Command.

Superintendent Michael Smith is now the Commandant of the Police Academy moving from his position as Commander for St Thomas while Superintendent Dermoth Lawrence moves from Westmoreland to the St Andrew Central Division.

Deputy Superintendent Steve Green from Clarendon is to take charge of the Motorised Patrol Division.

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