Will new focus reduce crime in Port Charles?

There’s a new sheriff in Port Charles – and she’s come loaded for bear.

Okay, she’s not a sheriff, she’s a police commissioner – but she still means business.

This week, Anna Devane Scorpio quietly took the reins at the Port Charles Police Department after former brother-in-law Mac Scorpio begged her to take the job.

This was a significant moment, mainly because Mac had held the position for more than a decade when he was unceremoniously fired last week.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love Mac – but he was a dismal police commissioner.

Yes, I know that he was at the mercy of hack writers for years that wanted the bad guys to win – but I’m hopeful this will not be Anna’s fate.

For those who don’t remember, this is not the first time Anna was appointed police commissioner in Port Charles. Sure, it’s been a few decades – and she’s been off fighting terrorists for a few years – but something tells me she hasn’t forgotten how to get the job done.

This move is something ‘General Hospital’ has desperately needed for the past 15 years or so – and I honestly think this is the best thing Ron Carlivati has done since he took over writing duties for ABC’s lone remaining sudser.

GH’s biggest problem of late has been that the criminals are running roughshod all over Port Charles.

It’s one thing to have a conflicted character like Todd Manning – one that has done awful things but owns up to them. It’s quite another to have conflicted characters like Sonny and Jason who are promoted as heroes – even though they’re anything but – and who run around town saying they only kill bad guys (when that’s not true either).

Anna’s first order of business was to have local mob thug Jason Morgan hauled down to police headquarters for a “chat.”

In what can only be described as a fascinating conversation, Anna didn’t devolve into empty threats or high-pitched histrionics. She very calmly and rationally explained to Jason that not only did she know what he had done – had a police officer beat up as a message – but she wasn’t going to tolerate it anymore.

Anna was eerily calm as she told Jason that John McBain wouldn’t be pressing charges against him – but she knew that he was responsible.

Anna then proceeded to inform Jason that she was aware of his relationship with her late daughter. She even mildly comforted Jason by telling him that he shouldn’t blame himself for Robin’s death – that she wouldn’t want it.

Then she matter-of-factly informed him that if he continued to do illegal things – she was going to come after him.

Of course, because she’s Anna, she ended the conversation by telling Jason that his wife (who had recently “lost” her baby) was in her thoughts.

The most remarkable thing about the conversation wasn’t how believable Anna was as she explained how things were going to be different in Port Charles -- and she was. No, the most remarkable thing was how Jason looked like a chastised child in Anna’s presence.

Steve Burton towers over Finola Hughes – and yet her presence in that scene dwarfed his.

The only thing I wish she would have added to her statement to him was this: “My daughter loved you. If you loved her, then you’ll find another line of work – because I will not hesitate to bring you in and lock you up forever. Even if it would have made my daughter sad.”

What I’m really looking forward to is a similar conversation between Anna and Sonny. Someone please tell me that is coming – and soon.

Under Anna’s firm leadership, I’m thinking the PCPD could finally do what it should have done years ago – lock up the two biggest thugs in Port Charles.

What do you think? Do Jason and Sonny have anything to be worried about?