Erica Virtue, Staff ReporterINSPECTOR AINSWORTH Gidden remains suspended on the order of the police commissioner, although he was cleared by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of criminal charges in last July's illegal removal of people from the streets of Montego Bay.
However the policeman, who disappeared when news broke that the street people were dumped in remote St. Elizabeth, has apparently disappeared again.
Neither the organisation which represents him in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the station where he worked, nor the police's Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) could provide any leads as to his status or whereabouts last week.
The Police Federation, which represents rank and file members of Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), believes the DPP's action would render any previous criminal action against him null and void. This would allow the policeman to be reverted to his former position, after which (internal) disciplinary action could be taken.
"In a technical sense, the fact that the DPP dropped criminal charges, means that there is no criminal case against him," said federation Chairman Michael James. "If that was the basis for the suspension, then it would become null and void. That being so, he should be returned to his former status, which includes getting fullpay and whatever else he may have been entitled to up to that point."
Inspector James said the Federation had no knowledge of his whereabouts, as they had not been in contact with each other. He also could not say whether the policeman had chosen to abandon the Force.
Checks with the Montego Bay police station, where the inspector worked prior to his suspension, confirmed that he was not at work. Officials declined to comment when asked when he was expected back at work and referred queries to the CCN.
'Disappeared'
Head of the CCN, Deputy Superintendent A. J. Forbes, said on Thursday that, in trying to answer the questions faxed to him, he had been referred to the assistant commissioner in charge of administration. This is because Inspector Gidden's file was no longer at the Bureau of Special Investigation. DSP Forbes could not be contacted by the Sunday Gleaner on Friday.
Inspector Gidden was suspended by Police Commissioner Francis Forbes and criminal charges laid against him.
He, along with St. James Parish Council truck driver Roger Leslie and Western Parks and Markets garbage collector Egbert Camp-bell, were criminally charged, as it was learned that the people were later dumped in remote St. Elizabeth.
The DPP dropped charges against him in exchange for his testimony. Mr. Leslie and Mr. Campbell are scheduled to return to court on July 20 when the matter is set for mention.
The inspector later testified at a Commission of Enquiry that he "disappeared" because of threats on his life.
According to the CCN, a suspended police officer receives no pay and remains suspended until criminal or internal investigations are completed and an outcome determined.
Inspector Gidden, along with Detective Sergeant Dilworth Robinson, testified at the Commission of Enquiry that they acted on instructions from superior officers, Superintendent Baldwin Burey and Senior Superintendent Everald Rose. No action was taken against the senior officers.
Meanwhile, Inspector James said, the Federation had not abandoned their colleague in the wake of the Street People Scandal.
"When we heard that police officers were involved, we went ahead and secured the services of a lawyer without even knowing who we were representing. We also went down to Montego Bay and nobody talked to us. We did all what was expected of us," he said.
