A fierce legal battle has erupted between Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher and the Police Service Commission (PSC) over her recent suspension from duty.
Her attorney, Senior Counsel Pamela Elder, wrote to PSC chairman Dr Wendell Wallace on February 3, demanding that the PSC immediately rescind its decision, warning that failure to do so would result in judicial review proceedings against the commission.
She gave the PSC until 2 pm on February 4 to rescind Harewood-Christopher’s suspension.
The top cop was suspended from office pending the outcome of a criminal probe into the acquisition of two sniper rifles for the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).
Elder challenged the PSC’s authority to suspend Harewood-Christopher on January 31, saying its decision was “shocking, unlawful, and ultra vires.”
The PSC’s decision to suspend the top cop was outlined in letters to Harewood-Christopher and President Christine Kangaloo.
The PSC decided Harewood-Christopher should cease performing her duties with immediate effect until further notice.
However, Elder argues that the PSC’s decision lacked proper legal foundation, as her client was not given specific details of the alleged misconduct.
She said the PSC failed to outline the particulars of the alleged “misbehaviour in public office” charge, leaving Harewood-Christopher unable to respond meaningfully.
“It is beyond human comprehension, alarming, and grossly unfair that in the said letter you asked our client to make representations in relation to an allegation devoid of particulars.”
Elder argued that the PSC could not lawfully suspend an officer – especially the Commissioner of Police – without properly reviewing evidence that justifies such action.
The six-page letter further noted that Harewood-Christopher was not arrested under a judicial warrant, meaning the arresting officer must have had reasonable grounds for suspecting she committed an offence.
Elder said the PSC’s letter did not indicate whether the commission had been provided with the name of the arresting officer or the grounds for suspicion.
Without this information, the PSC’s suspension decision is questionable and potentially unlawful, she said.
“In the absence of this critical and necessary information, it is alarming that an independent commission exercised its constitutional powers to suspend our client.
“Without such material, no impartial, independent, fair, just, and/or lawful decision to suspend could have been made.”
Elder also said the PSC failed to act fairly, maintaining that fairness required the PSC to request and review actual evidence before taking disciplinary action.
“As an independent and impartial body charged with protecting our client’s rights, it was unlawful for the PSC to suspend the commissioner without reviewing any material from which it could independently assess the allegations against her.”
Elder further noted that Harewood-Christopher had been aware of the police’s investigation since November 27, 2024, when DCP Suzette Martin to
