Was Owen Ellington forced out?

It appears that Police Commissioner Owen Ellington may not have retired voluntarily.

Sources told RJR News that Commissioner Ellington started his working day with the regularly scheduled early morning meeting at police headquarters with no hint that it was to be his last day.

That meeting we are told is critical; it is where the operational plan to fight crime for the week is crafted and resources allocated.

Our sources say Mr Ellington chaired the meeting with no suggestion his departure was imminent.

Everything changed after he was summoned to a meeting at Kings House sometime between 11 and 12 midday.

On his return to police head quarters the atmosphere changed and the police commissioner briefly met with his deputies...Then the news slowly filtered out.

It must be noted that Mr Ellington was not scheduled to go on leave today.  

Other sources rubbished the Security Ministry's statement that suggested he was stepping aside to avoid any potential conflict of being the head of the police force while the Tivoli Commission of Enquiry was in progress. 

The Enquiry will look into the conduct of the operations of the security forces in Western Kingston and other areas during the limited state of emergency in 2010.

Those sources also point to the presence of the current Permanent Secretary Stewart Saunders who was Chief of Defense Staff during the Tivoli operation.

Wouldn't that be a huge conflict?, our source quipped.