Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin is demanding that cops leave the force if they choose to give preference to their religion over policing duties. Lewin was responding to questions from members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force after addressing the 66th annual conference of the Jamaica Police Federation at the Starfish Resort in Trelawny.

Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin has called for cops who give preference to their religion over their policing duties to quit the force.

Lewin was responding yesterday to questions put forward by members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) after his address to the 66th annual conference of the Jamaica Police Federation at the Starfish Resort in Trelawny.

The police commissioner's response was prompted when a policeman was pointing out that a detectives' examination originally scheduled to be held on a Saturday had been rescheduled to facilitate Sabbath worshippers. The policeman was apparently about to query the new date when Lewin made a swipe at those who were believed to be abusing the force in the interest of religion.

The police commissioner stressed that work should not be compromised in the name of religion, particularly where there were clear cases of abuse.

"If you are so religious that the occasional Saturday creates a conflict, then you have a problem," Lewin said to angry reaction from many in the audience.

He was quick, however, to clarify that it would not be fair to anyone whose subofficer was habitually assigning him or her to duties on their day of worship.

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