Police Commissioner Vernon Francois.
Saint Lucia’s top cop Vernon Francois has made a request for early retirement, sources have confirmed.
The request by the police chief comes months after being sent on leave.
The request will be forwarded to the Public Service Commission for a decision.
Approval will be granted by the Governor General Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy.
The move to prolong the police chief’s leave has been met with criticism from all sections of society.
At one time, the top cop showed up for work, only to be told that he should proceed on an additional month’s leave.
It was reported that the authorities were looking to send a few senior police officials on early retirement, following the revelations from the report of alleged extra-judicial killings back in 2010-2011.
Francois headed what was dubbed “Operation Restore Confidence” which saw an unprecedented cut down in violent crime resulting in the fatal shooting of 12 suspects during that same period.
The vacancy for police commissioner could be advertised soon and a new commissioner appointed, sources said.
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