Head of the Homicide Bureau ACP Wayne Dick, whose request for government to buy-out his vacation leave for over $500,000 was rescinded by the Cabinet, proceeded on extended vacation leave last Friday.Contacted on the development yesterday acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams said that Dick's leave was granted adding that he would not speak any further on the matter as it was "a non issue". Williams had said previously that he had not approached Cabinet to buy-out Dick's leave and to approve it would undermine his authority.
When asked who would be heading the Homicide Bureau of Investigations and who would be spearheading the Dana Seetahal murder investigation while Dick was on leave Williams said that and other outstanding matters would be answered during the weekly press briefing on Wednesday. Calls and messages sent to Dick's cellphone were not answered yesterday. Dick's leave extends two years, according to well placed police sources, and began from October 24. The T&T Guardian has been informed that while Dick is on vacation the Homicide Bureau would be led by ACP Simon Lendor.
On October 1, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar referred the buying out of vacation leave for ACP Wayne Dick to the Finance and General Purposes Committee, after complaints from both Williams and the Police Second Division Association.The decision to purchase the vacation time of the senior officer was taken by acting PM Errol Mc Leod, while Persad-Bissessar was on official business in New York.