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Police Mirror
Jamaica Constabulary Force
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Message from the Commissioner of Police
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“Unless we have effective communication, our organisation will remain stilted.” Owen Ellington, Commissioner of Police
fully comprehend and support the premise that unless we have effective communication, our organisation will remain stilted. Far too often we learn the need to communicate by having to respond to the lack of it. For too long, apart from the weekly Force Orders, the Jamaica Constabulary Force has been devoid of a properly structured internal communication organ that allows members to become better acquainted with our goals, our achievements as well as our failures. That is why I greet the rebirth of the Police Mirror with enthusiasm and joy. The renaissance of this publication will further the development of the organisation. The publication of the Police Mirror, in its new format and style, coincides with one of my six strategic priorities - effective internal and external communication. When I became your Commissioner, I stated that a concerted effort would be made to improve internal communication to ensure that we learn more about each other, that decisions filter to every member and that internally, members can share their views and offer suggestions. The new Police Mirror represents a major thrust in our efforts to engage the creative energies and commitment of members. We can only prosper when all our energies point in the same direction. The Police Mirror is a major conduit for that expression. I also place internal communication at the centre of change. The value of internal communication to a dynamic organisation such as ours, is immense. It facilitates rapid change, more flexibility and innovation, more informed decisions, more efficient knowledge-sharing and a more motivated staff. Internal communication is vital to the success of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. A proper internal communication system, of which the Police Mirror is now a part, provides a strategic advantage, aligning the efforts of members, creating a medium for the sharing of knowledge and engaging the passion of every member. I urge all members to embrace the Police Mirror and what it represents. A special word of thanks for the work done by the Mirror’s editorial team in producing this edition. I look forward to many more publications.
Owen Ellington
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE
To our fallen heroes, we say bon voyage
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n this issue of the Police Mirror, we say bon voyage to our colleagues whose lives were cut short by fiendish criminals. Each time we pass a police station and see the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) flag being flown at half mast, it is an indication that someone who fought to protect this nation is being honoured. It is also a grim reminder that the selfless actions of those heroes have removed them from their families, friends and loved ones.
Our fallen brothers - our heroes - represent the character of the JCF, and its long history of patriotism. It is the sincere fervour for the defence of our nation’s most fragile residents, backed by
the relish to serve their people, that led these heroes to answer the call to service. And as our organisation continues the fight, we who are left behind will look proudly upon the memory of our fallen brothers and continue to fight to keep our nation free from the threat of criminals. We will serve with pride; we will serve with honour; and we will serve with the acute awareness of the gravity of the sacrifice of our brothers. In the words of Winston Churchill:
“Never in the field of human conflict have so many owed so much to so few.”
Rank
Name
Spl. Cons.
Metro McFarlane
Spl. Cons
Clive Virgo
Spl. Cons
Norman Nunez
Corporal
Miguel Cuff
Constable
Division St. James
Clarendon
Date Killed Jan. 16 Jan. 17
Protective Services
Feb. 19
Statistics Department
Feb. 22
Ainsroy Rushton
St. Andrew North
Mar. 18
Sergeant
Wayne Henriques
Motorized Patrol
May 24
Constable
Jason Davis
Kingston Eastern
May 24
Corporal
Omar Duncan
Hanover
July 26
Spl. Cpl
Jermaine Cummings
Harman Barracks
July 26
Spl. Cons.
James Lemmie
St. Catherine North
Aug. 1
Spl. Cons.
Mikhail Hogarth
Harman Barracks
Aug. 21
Spl. Cpl.
Garfield Anderson
Harbour Street Police Post
Sept. 9
Constable
Otis Barrett
Mobile Reserve
Sept. 17
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Striving to achieve excellence
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ome people are born at the time of a rare astronomical event, when the cosmos align and a new star is born. Such people are gifted, and seem to reach the heights of professionalism in their various fields without ever stepping foot into a classroom. These people have also met Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster - they don’t exist.
For normal people – that is, everybody – perfection is only achieved after they have been moulded by the wisdom and guidance of those who have gone before them, and after they have taken the instruction and made it their own through long hours of dedicated study. In other words, for normal folks, perfection = HARD WORK. Ask a police officer, and he will tell you that where hard work stops, he doesn’t know. But all police officers know where it started: at the Jamaica Police Academy (JPA).
At Twickenham Park in St. Catherine, on a picturesque 350 acres of land, lies the training complex for the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). This is where the hard work begins, when a hopeful enters the Academy as a student Constable, and this is where it continues, right throughout the ranks, to the rank of Deputy Commissioner. BAsic tRAiNiNg Basic training covers the embryonic stages of police life. This is where recruits are taken through the rigorous, intense but compact program that prepares them to be a member of the JCF. Basic training lasts about two years, but the institutionalized part of that training, which takes place at the Jamaica Police Academy, lasts about five months. Institutionalised training has undergone significant restructuring in recent times, and has been restyled
B
photos By couRtNey giBBs
A
B. An instructor at the Jamaica Police Academy
so as to align with the vision for the JCF. One of the major priorities now is to have all police officers prepared to deal
Sharing crime fighting strategies
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here aren’t many similarities between Jamaica and Colombia. The latest estimate puts Colombia’s population at 45 million – more than ten times that of Jamaica. The Jamaican national language is English, but Colombians communicate in Spanish. Colombian culture is heavily influenced by Spanish culture, but any evidence that remains in Jamaica of a Spanish influence is crowded out by the influence of 300 years of British rule. photo By couRtNey giBBs
DCP Jevene Bent, head of administration and support services for the JCF, peruses a book with one member of the eight-member delegation of Colombian National Police while SSP Ealan Powell and Mayor Gonzales, another member, looks on.
knowledge, policies and tactics in crime fighting. The latest collaboration took the form of a two-week visit to the island by an eight-member
through the JCF’s Human Rights Policy with a fine-toothed comb, highlighting the importance of using proportionate force at all times. This is combined with the subject of human rights and the constitutional rights of every Jamaican, empowering recruits to be more understanding and perceptive of the expectations they must meet when they enter into the field. Law, police procedures, drill, the proper use and handling of firearms, and physical training complete the first module of basic training. The rest of the time is spent in the field, applying and sharpening the skills departed at the JPA – continuing the hard work. iN-seRVice tRAiNiNg Once the rigour of basic training is over, it’s time to move on to new ones: in-service training. In-service training encompasses a wide range of programmes, such as Corporal and Sergeant Management, which are all designed to train and equip young talents with the skills required to move the JCF forward. These courses are spear-headed by qualified and competent members of the JCF. In-service training also takes into account training exercises for District Constables.
go s r o t c tru s ’s n i . F . . C “ J the h g u thro an Rights Hum with a Policy d comb...” the o o t e fin adequately with every situation of potential human rights abuse, and to be able to objectively apply force where it may be required. As a result, basic training now centres around these critical, but non-law areas that affect everyday policing. Classroom instructors go
But Jamaica and Colombia do have something in common: the security forces in both countries are locked in an intense battle with the monster that is organized crime. It is with this in mind that the two countries have come together since 2002 to share
A. Pick me, pick me! This student constable waits to be acknowledged so he can show the lecturer what he has learned. And should he forget, his prese - the police officers’s ‘bible’, is close by to help him out.
delegation of the Colombian National Police (CNP), from August 16-24. Mayor Gonzales, one member of the delegation,
explained the initiative: “Colombia has experience with violence and control strategies that have proven effective against guerillas (highly organized gangs) and cartels.” He went on to explain that Colombia has, over the years been able to make a dent in its crime problem, and it is hoped that by sharing strategies and policies, the same success can be reaped in Jamaica. “We hope that we will be able to give support [to the JCF] because we want the Jamaican Constabulary Force to become one of the best in the Caribbean,” said Gonzalo. Each member of the delegation represented one arm of the CNP. There were representatives from Anti-Narcotics, Kidnapping, Criminal Investigation,
-Steve Brown Special Investigation, Training and Education, Strategic Communications, Intelligence and Civilian Disturbance divisions of the CNP, each one of which correlates with an arm of the JCF. During their visit, the team participated in several forums and conferences which were aimed at analyzing the challenges facing the JCF and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). It is expected that they will use the information gathered to develop recommendations for strategies, which will then be presented to the Minister of National Security and the Commissioner of Police. “Because the areas within the two forces are so similar, strategies can be easily applied,” Gonzales explained.
-Antoinette Shakespeare
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the
commandant speaks By Anika Richards
“I was too young to become anything other than what my father wanted me to become,” said SSP Welsh with a smirk on his face. “That is what brought me here (the JCF), but when I got here, I found out that this is, in fact, what the Lord had in store for me.” Today, he is the facilitator of the institution he describes as the “cradle” of the JCF, which has two campuses, one at Twickenham Park in St. Catherine and the other at Tranquillity Bay in St. Elizabeth. “A lot of persons misinterpret the JPA as the training branch, but in fact, the JPA is just a part of the training branch, because the training branch takes in other training entities,” SSP Welsh told the Police Mirror. “The JPA is the gateway to the JCF.” As the Commandant, SSP Welsh is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the JPA, the starting point for all entrants to the police force, whether as police constables or members of the Island Special Constabulary or the District Constabulary. According to SSP Welsh, major issues in policing today are human rights and fairness. Therefore, the academy plays its role in emphasising these vital elements during training by treating the recruits as adults. The recruits who are gearing up to accept the challenge of serving, protecting and reassuring the Jamaican people, are therefore instrumental to the programme. However, SSP Welsh remains confident, because several students have been living up to expectations. He is also encouraged because the JPA is committed to recruiting the best and the brightest. “You will see documentation to the effect that you require four O’Levels to enter the JCF, and in fact, that is so. If you have four O’Levels, and you show up at the recruiting centre, you will be given the entrance test,” SSP Welsh told the Police Mirror. “How far that will take you, I am not sure, because we do have applicants with first degrees and even Master’s degrees who are trying to get Bishop Gary Welsh, Commandant of the Jamaica Police Academy.
Better training, Better JcF
W
hat started out as a father’s dream, has become the reality of a son. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gary Welsh, with his father’s prompting, joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) at age 17 and is now the man at the helm of the Jamaica Police Academy (JPA).
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The Chaplaincy: Caring, Supporting and Enabling
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haplaincy within the Jamaica Constabulary Force came into its own under the distinguished leadership of the Reverend Dr. Vivian Panton, who was appointed as the first full-time chaplain in January 1991. He retired in December 2008.
Since that time, the chaplaincy programme has continued to evolve, and now offers a range of services to both sworn and unsworn personnel and their families within the police department. The motto, Caring, Supporting and Enabling, states in a nutshell what the chaplaincy stands for. The Chaplaincy Services Branch consists of a chief chaplain and seven assistant chaplains, who are strategically located. There are also a number of certified peer counsellors who work under the supervision of the chaplains. These peer counsellors who are police personnel, are seen as ‘first responders’ and ‘points of contact’ with their colleagues who are in need of help.
In an effort to broaden the services, competent local pastors are recruited and assigned to every local police station and formation throughout the island. These volunteer pastors assist with the chaplaincy programme at the local level. They are also supervised by the assistant chaplains. The chaplains, peer counsellors and station pastors form a network as well as a safety net for members of the police department. The chaplaincy has its challenges. The negative realities of indiscipline, the frightening growth of crime, violence and corruption have had an impact on society, including law enforcement officers and their families. This in turn places a heavy demand on the relatively small Chaplaincy Services Branch. Nevertheless, we remain resolute, relevant and responsive to the ever-increasing demands of the police department.
Chief Chaplain at the Chaplaincy Services Branch, Reverend Edgar Henry.
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Police Mirror
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EDITORIAL
If we must serve A view from within... Editor in Chief Inspector Steve Brown
Editor Sergeant Cheree Greaves
Proofreaders District Constable Anika Richards District Constable Youlanda Henry
Photographers Inspector Steve Brown Corporal Oneil Hinds Constable Shaunjaye Mitchell District Constable Antoinette Shakespeare District Constable Kimesha Henry
Writers Inspector Steve Brown Constable Shaunjaye Mitchell District Constable Anika Richards District Constable Youlanda Henry District Constable Antoinette Shakespeare District Constable Khemoy Leiba
Graphic Artist Keleshia Powell
Layout and Design Youlanda Henry Anika Richards The Police Mirror is a publication of the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN).
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he Jamaica Constabulary Force, over the years, has been at the receiving end of attacks from opinion writers, vitriols from talk-show hosts and a plethora of diatribes from the general public. We as members, who are servants of the people, are cognisant that some of these comments are justified. Against this background, it is with open arms that we welcome the wind of change blowing through the organisation, moulding the JCF into a modern police force.
As the changes begin to take effect, there is a new level of trust from members of the public and there is a renewed sense of pride and professionalism being exhibited by our members, particularly those on the front line. But if we must serve, there has to be the clear understanding that we are not granting the people of Jamaica a favour. Instead, we must understand that we voluntarily took an oath to serve them. If we must serve, it must be with the highest level of professionalism and respect for human rights. The overwhelming and unprecedented support we received from Jamaicans here and abroad during the recent unrest in sections of Kingston, is the clearest indication that our people want to see their police force take on the criminals, but do so professionally. If we must serve, let us build on that trust by not allowing the massive confidence placed in us by our people to be eroded by corruption and
DCP Charles Scarlett
unprofessional conduct. Therefore, if we must serve, let us each take on the responsibility to move with the wind of change, and indeed to blow some ourselves, until this noble organisation can once again be the premier place to work.
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‘I am Ready’ young constable ready to tackle the world of policing
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“
am willing to stand up in the face of adversity and do my best,” says Constable Archibald Edwards, one of the newest members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). “I expect to be faced with a lot of harsh realities when I go out there to do my duty, because I know there is a lot of hatred for police personnel . I am not afraid of the hostility that I may face,” said Constable Edwards. The Police Mirror caught up with Constable Edwards at the JCF’s 90th Passing Out Ceremony at Twickenham Park, St. Catherine. He was one of the 68 police constables who joined the JCF after completing five months of basic training at the Jamaica Police Academy (JPA). Though Constable Edwards was cognisant of the challenges he may face as a police officer, he was to face an entirely different test on July 9, 2010. Under the pelting sun and watchful eyes of commanding officers of various ranks of the JCF, Constable Edwards and his fellow constables maintained their composure during the drill routines, and Constable Edwards while on duty at the Commissioner’s Office on Old Hope Road displayed a level of in St. Andrew. efficiency that is befitting of a class that had undergone training at the JPA – demonstrating they were ready for the pressures that are likely to come with the territory. For 27-year-old Edwards, the Passing Out Ceremony marked a big accomplishment, and is another rung of his yearning to give of himself to Jamaica. “I was a part of the Jamaica Fire Brigade for six years before I came here (to JPA), so most of the training was not really new to me,” said Constable Edwards. “There were things that were a lot more vigorous, especially in the last two weeks, where field photos By steVe BRowN craft training takes place, to expose Constable Edwards (right) accepts the top performer’s trophy students to tactical manoeuvres, as from DCP Charles Scarlett during the Passing Out Ceremony at the Jamaica Police Academy on July 16, 2010.
well as to expose us to dealing with the public in various situations.” The former Rusea’s High School student, who is from Harvey River in Hanover, said that he is grateful for the knowledge he gained in field craft, but he admitted to the Police Mirror that he hopes he will never have to administer them. “Those last two weeks were the roughest, especially the last day when we got two doses of tear gas – trust me, it was not a very good experience,” Constable Edwards confessed. But the hard work paid off for the young constable, whose father also served as a member of the police force. Edwards copped two awards at the ceremony, one for the highest mark obtained, and the other for best all-round performance. These awards go to the student constable who is top of his class overall. In addition, the recipient would have displayed enthusiasm for learning and would have been diligent in the study of laws and police procedures, The student constable is also likely to have always been commended for being exuberant and continuously portraying a high level of commitment to master whatever task is given. Major General Stewart Saunders, former chief of staff of the Jamaica Defence Force, who was the keynote speaker at the event, took great care in reminding Edwards and the other constables that Jamaica had high expectations of them and that they should not falter, highlighting the challenges that await the new constables. “Jamaica requires that you do not yield to the temptations of criminality, but that you endeavour to be a part of the solution that reduces crime to tolerable levels throughout our society, and not a part of the problem that confronts us today. “In the present social climate you are expected to uphold and administer the law and in so doing to be impartial in its dispensation. Everyone must be treated equally before the law… Respect the rights of the public in your execution of your duties,” said Major General Saunders. “Essentially, there is need for you to identify with all the law-abiding citizens across the length and breadth of our country and forge lasting, mutually respectful relationships that will see communities embracing you as their friend and not addressing you as their enemy.” To this Constable Edwards said, “I am ready.”
- Anika Richards
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, e y b d o Go civilian Police Mirror
By Khemoy Leiba
A
year into his tenure as officer in charge of recruiting in Area 4 of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Sergeant Coleridge Minto is passionate about his job.
“The recruitment office plays a significant role in procuring the best and brightest individuals for service in the JCF,” he said. Mondays and Tuesdays are the busiest days for him, as he has to deal with between 30 and 40 applicants. Sergeant Minto noted that there has been an increase in the number of female applicants. “Sixty per cent of the applicants today are female,” he stated. There is also an increase in the number of applicants who possess first degrees. This, he rationalised, assists the JCF in producing members of high quality and competence. There are seven stages to the recruitment process, and candidates are dismissed if they do not satisfy the criteria at each level. The aspirants’ ability to work as part of a team, competence in academia, physical capabilities, knowledge of the organisation and topical issues,
photo By oNeil hiNDs
Sergeant Coleridge Minto talks with the Police Mirror about what’s new in recruitment.
character and educational background are assessed during the process. Some applicants go through the process in less time than others. Sergeant Minto disclosed that the time taken to respond to individuals is case-specific and that at times, the need for extensive background checks, which can span several parishes or even countries, is often a factor that
leads to delays. Fairness, the absence of prejudice and excellent customer service are some of the attributes that Sergeant Minto said he and his team provide. “We deliver on our mission and remind ourselves of this every single day,” he further explained. He lauded his team, which comprises of three officers and two district constables, for their
Jamaica Constabulary Force
professionalism and hard work. “I would recommend anyone who wants to serve their country to become a part of the JCF,” Sergeant Minto asserted. “It is the best organisation to work for… it is stable, rewarding and fulfilling, and the opportunities are tremendous,” he continued. There is not only institutionalised training, but also the chance to garner additional skills and knowledge on the job as well as a wide scope for promotion. Though Sergeant Minto is enthusiastic about the recruitment of personnel for the JCF and the progress made in this area, he expressed the need for additional resources. He related his desire to incorporate technology in the application process. This would help to make the recruitment process smoother. He said, for example, that although the degree of care and foresight with which recruiting is approached these days has helped to improve the process, the implementation of a detailed database for example, or more extensive training of recruitment officers, are ways in which the recruiting process can be further advanced.
Everything
you ever wanted to know about...
T
he Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is moving in a new direction. We have recognised as an organisation, that in order for us to progress and achieve ever-higher standards of policing, each member must also progress; if each member advances, the development of the organisation is inevitable.
In embracing this new paradigm, the Human Resources arm has looked extensively at several existing policies, with a view of revamping the system to bring it in line with the new vision. One area that has undergone extensive streamlining is the promotional examination framework. The new framework allows for a seamless matching of capabilities to needs. But more importantly, the new framework allows for the development of each member within his/her present capacity. This is important, because while we understand that each member has individual aspirations and ambitions, we must, while making strides in our chosen careers, function adequately at our present level. This approach ensures that the organisation can first meet its prescribed targets, before we aspire to move our standards higher. Another big addition to the promotional framework is the inclusion of integrity screening in the process. This step goes beyond the impact a member makes on his locality, and looks at how the member affects the organisation. As police officers, we must be cognisant, at all times, that we are public servants. As such, we are accountable to the public, and we are subject to their scrutiny.
promotion noitomorp
The Promotional Framework The officer who is applying for promotion must be competent in his current rank, and must have served the designated time within the rank.
1 2
The officer must demonstrate, through the combination of onthe-job assessment as well as through the promotional examination, that he or she possesses the necessary knowledge, skills, competencies and leadership abilities to function adequately at the higher rank.
3 4
Candidates must go through a period of pre-promotion training in order that they may be properly orientated into their new roles. The promotional framework also seeks to ensure that each member is aware of the performance standards that are associated with every rank. It also seeks to deliver developmental training wherever gaps between the desired standards and present performance are discovered.
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N FIELD A B UR N O I T CRAFT EDI disappear in an opening; we have the high-rise buildings, t’s changing. A conversation and there are the old cars in the with any member of the street – everything.” Training in the urban village Jamaica Constabulary Force models real-life operations, (JCF) will invariably turn up though to varying degrees. these words, and probably Recruits are trained at level several times. This constant theme is one indication that the one. Elite teams from the transformation of the police force, Mobile Reserve, who are the frontline operatives of the JCF, which began recently, is taking root. And nowhere is that change more and other elite formations go to evident than in the basic training for level three. Nish says though, that even recruits at the Jamaica Police Academy after level one training, the (JPA). recruit has the requisite skills With the explosion of gang activities over the past decade, which often occur to be able to handle the in residential communities alongside situations he is most likely to Whatever it takes. That’s what you do to normal everyday activities, urban face in the Jamaican police help a fellow officer when in the field, and warfare has become a central part of scenario. this recruit shows he’s learned well as he However, Nish is anxious to training. helps his squad-mate over a roof in the improve the At the centre of this focus is the further urban village at the Jamaica Police eight-year-old urban village at the JPA. programme. For example, field Academy during a training session in July 2010. The village was donated to the JCF by craft, which generally lasts the British government. It is about two weeks on average, sandwiched by the shooting range and should be no less than three said, “because these are the the football field, across from the weeks, and he, in fact, would like it to areas they will have to police.” be much more. longstanding rural combat zone. “Because of the depth of knowledge He says that idea was recently According to Inspector Andrew tested with a batch of recruits, Nish, one of the instructors in charge of and skills that are to be learned, and who were in training at the the field craft module of basic training because of what it is – these lessons can time. They were taken on an at the JPA, every detail of the village, mean the difference between life and operation into a Montego Bay from its ground-to-roof ladders to the death – one cannot rush through this community, which led to the goat pen and the pigeon cage, is training,” he said. At the top of Nish’s to-do list is to seizure of several contraband precise; the village was modelled after items, and the capture of one of an inner-city community in St. have recruits taken out of the simulated, controlled conditions at the village and the division’s most wanted Catherine. men. “We have everything,” Nish taken into real communities. “We need them to be explains. “There are places where the familiar with the areas,” he walls seem solid, but then a man will
I
By Youlanda Henry
photo By steVe BRowN
These two recruits make their way through a mud lane in the urban village at the Jamaica Police Academy during a training session in July 2010. This mud lane is among several others in the village that are designed to equip a police officer with the necessary skills to survive an assault in an urban setting.
photos By shAuNJAye mitchell & KimeshA heNRy
A recruit practises the proper way to restrain and search a suspect during a training session at the Jamaica Police Academy.
Recruits take a pit stop during a 13-mile trek through the hills of St. Catherine, one part of field training at the Jamaica Police Academy.
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Constables attached to the Mobile Reserve expand knowledge during a post-institutional training ses
A recruit races to make it back to the designated rendezvous during a training session at the Jamaica Police Academy in July, 2010.
Recruits celebrate despite their tiredness during the night session of an all-day field craft seminar at the Jamaica Police Academy in July 2010.
Commandant Gary Welsh congratulates a constable after her graduation ceremony at the Jamaica Police Academy in July 2010.
In mid-July 2010, these recruits and their instructor were spotted escaping the heat by making use of the ‘natural’ air conditioning available on the picturesque compound of the Jamaica Police Academy.
Eyes Right! This sergeant was leading the parade on graduation day at the Jamaica Police Academy.
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Reserve expand their onal training session.
Recruits march in single-file during a 13-mile walk through rural St. Catherine in July 2010. The walk is a part of field craft training at the Jamaica Police Academy.
Constables make the shape of a diamond during a drill display at their graduation at the Jamaica Police Academy.
Former chief of defence staff of the Jamaica Defence Force, Major General Stewart Saunders, was the keynote speaker at the Passing Out Ceremony for Batch 90 at the Jamaica Police Academy in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine.
Left, right, leeeeft! Constables put on a show for the audience at their graduation ceremony at the Jamaica Police Academy at Twickenham Park, St. Catherine.
A recruit takes aim.
DSP Michael Smith is about to halt during a parade at the Jamaica Police Academy.
Students take notes during a lecture at the Jamaica Police Academy.
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it’s a winding road to become
a police
By: Shaunjaye Mitchell
required documents.
step two After successfully completing the entrance test (or the rom the entrance alternative), the next step is the assessment which is exam, through the followed by an interview. The applicant must also meticulous recruiting successfully complete the assessment in order to move on process, the road to to the interview. becoming a police If the applicant reaps success in both tests, files are then Jamaica the in officer to police stations and the National Intelligence sent Constabulary Force (JCF) is long Bureau (NIB) for antecedents to be done. This may take and tedious. to as much as several months, To begin the meandering anywhere from a few weeks of the information. availability the on depending journey through the recruiting me teN! giVe DRop AND prospective the process, next in line. Each is Physical fitness assessment applicant must satisfy the basic far in the recruiting process, requirements in order to be applicant who has got this that he or she can cope with recruiter the to prove must selected for entry to the JCF. This a series of exercises. completing by training of rigours the is followed by several other steps. If the applicant succeeds, the medical examination is next: a police constable must be healthy. stuDeNt coNstABle If successful at the preliminary stages, the applicant is called in for training as soon as the Jamaica Police Academy (JPA) can accommodate him/her. Once in training, the hopeful is referred to as a student constable, who must complete three stages at the Academy. BAsic ReQuiRemeNts During these stages, the student constable is taught basic The applicant is required to have laws and police procedures. The student constable sits an at least 5 CXC subjects, inclusive of exam at the end of each level. If however, the student Mathematics and English Language. constable fails one of these exams he/she is given a re-sit. The aspiring police officer must also Each exam is very important as it will determine whether submit original copies of his/her or not the student constable moves on to the next stage en qualifications, four passport-sized route to becoming a police constable. Classes are held photographs stamped and signed by a Mondays to Fridays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Justice of the Peace, valid form of After completing the three stages, each student must go identification, National Insurance through two weeks of field exercises, which builds the Scheme (NIS) number, Tax Registration endurance of the student. Number (TRN) and a birth certificate. pAssiNg out ceRemoNy Once applicants have satisfied the After the completion of field exercises, it’s time for basic requirements, they will be required graduation. Graduation is the best time of the recruit’s life, to sit an entrance test at any of the as this signifies the end of a rigorous training process and recruiting centres across the island. On the the acquisition of the title of police constable. day of the exam, all the required documents After graduating, police constables, who are on two must be submitted. years probation, are sent to their respective divisions However, if the applicant possesses a first where they are placed in a tutor-constable programme degree or any qualification above this, he or under the guidance of a Divisional Training Sub-Officer she is exempt from the entrance test. Such (DTSO) where their probation training continues. At the applicants are required to complete two end of the probationary period, each police constable application forms and an autobiography of returns to the academy for another graduation ceremony no less than 250 words; he/she submit the and they receive certificates that indicate their degree for inspection as well the other confirmation as Police Officers.
F
Police Constable 13 miles ahead
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Jamaica Constabulary Force
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iscF:
pARtNeRs T
e m i r c n o in the war
he Island Special Constabulary Force was established in 1950 through an act of Parliament, the Special Constables Act, which streamlined a parish constables system that had been in operation since 1904. Under the new Act, the special constable had the same powers as a constable of the JCF, but his function was defined as a supporting or supplementary role to the JCF.
For the past 60 years though, the ISCF has proven its worth. Dr. Orville Taylor, Gleaner columnist, said in June 2008 “...despite all the rumours one hears about members of the ISCF, they are more educated, competent and committed than is generally recognised.” Acting commandant of the ISCF, James Golding, agreed. “It really has evolved over time,” he said. “Now we are equal partners in the crime fighting apparatus, and we are paid our due respect.” Generally, the ISCF focuses on minor crimes and maintaining public order, allowing the JCF to concentrate on solving serious crimes. This includes maintaining order in public spaces; traffic functions; manning courts; securing government buildings and enforcing environmental and agricultural laws. And, according to Golding, the ISCF boasts a highly enviable track record. “We have never missed an operational target,” he declares. “And we are on track for this year. The only thing that may possibly hinder us is the West Kingston operation.” The West Kingston operation of May 2010 was in a bid to execute a warrant which had been issued for the arrest of the former West Kingston leader, Christopher Coke. The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), from time to time, calls on the ISCF to supplement specialist areas of the JCF, and its members, who undergo a 20-week period of training that is similar to the training of a JCF constable, have received high commendations over the years. ISCF members are found within all major formations of the JCF, including the Major Investigations Task Force,
NIB/Kingfish, Mobile Reserve, the Transnational Crime and Narcotics Division (TCND), the Flying Squad and the Scenes of Crime Unit. So what’s behind the success of the ISCF? Acting Commandant Golding said it is a combination of many things. “There is no separation, perceived or otherwise, between senior officers and their juniors,” Golding said. “It is of such that even the youngest constable can feel comfortable to approach a senior officer and make a suggestion.” Golding says however, that this is balanced with a system of close supervision, and constant briefing and debriefing. This system, he says, is proven to keep members, especially junior members, towing the line. Another part of its success is the system of continuous training. Over one-third of the members have been certified in the principles of community-based policing, for example, and the process continues. The ISCF also understands however, that all work makes for grumpy employees. On a Tuesday afternoon, cool melodies from the award-winning choir float around the Harman Barracks compound, where the ISCF headquarters is located. The choir is one of several social activities of its kind within the ISCF. The Human Resources division, one of the four operational arms of the ISCF (the others are Metro Operations, Rural Operations and Administration/ Support Services), organises several other social and sporting events, seminars and workshops. “When it is time to work we work hard, and when it is time to have fun, we have fun. We believe that life is a balance,” Golding said.
Members of the ISCF patrol team return to headquarters after completing their shift in downtown Kingston.
photos By steVe BRowN
A team of ISCF officers consult each other while on duty in the Parade area of downtown Kingston in July 2010. TOP: Acting Commandant James Golding, who is in charge of training for members of the Island Special Constabulary Force. BELOW: The ISCF recruiting officers mark tests after a recruiting session at Harman Barracks.
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Police Mirror
Jamaica Constabulary Force
By Antoinette Shakespeare
B
eing a police officer was the last thing on his mind. But today, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ealan Powell, the officer in charge of the Jamaica Staff College, is now one of the driving forces behind the wave of transformation currently gaining a foothold in the organisation.
Training, says SSP Powell, is essential to any organisation that hopes to grow and develop. It is crucial to hone the skills of the workforce, because they are the wheels that turn the organisation. A poorly trained employee, he said, is like a badly shaped wheel. He said for the JCF, improved training forms the basis of the ongoing transformation. SSP Powell is convinced that if the level of training offered within the JCF continues to improve, the public’s perception of the entity will also improve. SSP Powell stated, “I bemoan the fact that the confidence and trust level is very low, but I’m convinced that if we continue in the same direction, we will overcome, and we can be seen as the organisation we ought to be seen as,” said SSP Powell. The Staff College is one of the oldest sections of the Training Branch, which includes other formations such as the Firearm and Tactical Training
photo By steVe BRowN
SSP Ealan Powell addresses the audience at the Constabulary Staff College in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine in August.
Unit, and the Caribbean Search Centre. The mandate of the Staff College is to improve the skills and knowledge base of all police officers from the rank of Senior Constable to Deputy Commissioner. The Staff College’s mantra is, as the knowledge of its students increase, so too will their level of competence. This continuous improvement is important, SSP Powell said, because if training is static, the organisation will stagnate. He said although empirical data might be unavailable, anecdotal evidence proves that the policy of continuous training at the Staff College is best, and it has been making an impact on the JCF. There are, however, some problems.
“The aesthetics of the college is in a deplorable condition, it hasn’t been painted in excess of 30 years,” he said. SSP Powell explained though, that despite the constraints, he strongly believes that the level of training given to police officers has an impact on the wider society, and as such he is always seeking ways to improve the training programme offered at the Staff College. In keeping with this ongoing commitment to improve the service it delivers to the JCF, the Staff College recently implemented two new programmes to assist with the overall development of the JCF. They are: the Staff Officers Programme, and the Front Line Operatives Programme, which offers training to officers who lead on the front line. SSP Powell sees himself as a Deputy Commissioner in 10 years. But whatever his rank, he says he will still be making a meaningful contribution to the transformation of the Jamaica Constabulary Force through training. And, should his destiny take him elsewhere, he is sure the transformation will continue, because the JCF has recruited and trained a number of individuals who have the wherewithal to be at the forefront of the change that is revolutionising the force.
There’s a chaplain near you
T
he Chaplaincy Services Branch offers services in such critical areas as counselling, spiritual guidance and direction, funerals, visits, devotional exercises, interview of recruits, health and personal welfare, critical incident stress debriefing, conflict management, grievance issues and more. If you are in need of any of these services, make contact with a chaplain near you.
Edgar C. Henry Chief Chaplain Commissioner’s Office 978-2972/840-0111 Reverend Roy Wickham Assistant Chaplain (Area 2) 975-4228/564-1387
Reverend Courtney Faulknor Assistant Chaplain (ISCF/Harman Barracks) 938-2053/564-3512
Reverend Penelope Morgan-Owens Assistant Chaplain (Area 5 H.Q.) Reverend Father Paul Collier 318-3404/564-3551
Assistant. Chaplain (Area 4) 757-0138/564-1299
Reverend Courtney Walters Assistant Chaplain (Area 1 H.Q.) 952-4224/280-4463 Reverend Lenford Newell Assistant Chaplain Non-Geographic Formations 354-0339 Reverend Father Carlton Tulloch Assistant Chaplain (Area 3) 962-8932/371-5707
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Jamaica Constabulary Force
winds of change blow at twickenham
Police Mirror
Page 15
By Steve Brown
I
n the hills of St. Catherine at Twickenham Park stands the institution charged with the responsibility of training Jamaicans who aspire to become law enforcement officers: the Jamaica Police Academy (JPA).
It is known for having some of the most feared drill instructors this side of the hemisphere; its famous ‘jungle juice’ – which remarkably has not changed in temperature or taste for at least half a century; and a training regimen which is almost as stringent as that of the Jamaica Defence Force. Formerly, recruits having good passes in G.C.E. O’ Levels were regarded with awe, and that individual was seen as a prodigy — a bright prospect for the future. At the same time, there was the axiom that those who became members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) did so
TURN TO CHANGE ON PAGE 16
Sergeant James, chief drill instructor at the Jamaica Police Academy
An instructor gives instructions to a group of recruits regarding firearm handling, one of the areas covered in field craft at the Jamaica Police Academy. This part of the training is taught by the Firearm and Tactical Training Unit (FTTU). ABOVE: Recruits make their way through the urban village during field craft training at the Jamaica Police Academy, eyes alert for any ‘surprises’.
photos By steVe BRowN
The Jamaica Police Academy has become more student-friendly towards recruits over the years. “They were great,” Squad One, pictured above, says of the instructors. LEFT: Two instructors attached to the Firearm and Tactical Training Unit share a joke during downtime at a training session at the Jamaica Police Academy.
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: e v r e s e R Mobile T
he Mobile Reserve has gained the unenviable position of being the most highly feared division in the Jamaica Constabulary Force. It is the one non-geographical division of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) that drives fear into recruits, being renowned for pushing new recruits to the limit.
But Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Warren Turner, wishes to dispel this myth, because at the Mobile Reserve, fear is not necessary. “Training at the Mobile Reserve pushes you to the limit, not to let you fall, but to see how best you can keep up with situations,” said DSP Turner, “just in case they arise.” Though DSP Turner cannot positively state why new constables may fear being assigned to the Mobile Reserve, he points out that at the Mobile Reserve, members of the JCF are trained for all eventualities. “We cannot be soft on training,” said DSP Turner. “You cannot train a person to do desk jobs and then put the person on the battlefield to face gunfire or criminals. “You have to learn to endure some very harsh situations: rainfalls, cold nights, even mosquitoes,” said DSP Turner. “It is rough, it is tough, it is
Members of the Mobile Reserve standing proud.
Change comes to Twickenham Park CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 only because they had limited options in terms of a career choice. However, the advancement of technology over the last few years has changed the world; no aspect of the human life has remained untouched, and the JCF is no exception. In moving with the winds of change, the JCF, through dynamic leadership, has made significant adaptations to how it trains its police officers, especially over the last five years. The changes are especially evident at the JPA. So significant has been the transformation at the JPA that the axiom of joining the JCF as a last resort has disappeared. Today, more highly qualified individuals are entering the Academy than ever before. They come with experience in numerous areas, from medical technology to chemistry to accounting to journalism. They enter the Academy at the rank of Constable, aware that they are on a level playing field. The JPA has also become more student-friendly. A student council body has been established where the views of the recruits can be aired through peer representation at staff meetings or through direct contact with the authorities. The council has also introduced a wireless Internet system and has provided an avenue to access personal laptops. It was also responsible for training a number of kitchen
photo By steVe BRowN
Watchya looking at?
staff. (One can’t be sure if the training will affect the ‘jungle juice’ though.) Even with all these improvements, some are still asking, why the JCF? What does it offer youngsters who decide to make it a profession? One youngster, a medical technologist and graduate of Northern Caribbean University, has the answers to all these questions. She says the Force is extremely dynamic and it provides avenues for
growth. “When I decided to make a career shift, I examined my options carefully and realised that I could utilise my skills in the JCF to help solve crime. She also pointed to the many areas in the police force that provide the platform for one to develop into a well-rounded individual,” said a recruit. She continued, “Although my intention is to work in the area of forensics, there are other departments where I am sure my training can be utilised. In my view, the JCF provides a type of dynamism that is not easily matched by any other organisation,” said a diminutive recruit, who had just completed basic training at the time of the interview. Another young female cop, Renee Barham, believes the change is as a result of people having a greater knowledge of the police force and what it has to offer. Barham notes, “When you market your product properly and know how to sell your brand to the ideal market, you will then have no problem attracting customers.” Barham, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of Technology, is warning the Force to brace itself for an influx of highly qualified individuals. “When you look at what the Force has to offer, if the communications and public relations department decides to go on an all-out drive to promote brand JCF, and highlight the many departments and what they stand for, all the vacancies would be filled in a week,” she said.
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TESTING THE LIMITS life-saving and it is the way forward.” From being called the Strike Force in the early 1960s to being called the Mobile Reserve today, training at the division has moved from one of exclusivity to more routine street policing. “In the old days, people were exclusively trained for this division because the Mobile Reserve has to deal with rough situations such as riots, labour disputes, advanced internal security, high-profile policing when it comes to crime and criminal activities, among other things.” It has now been expanded to also include transnational narcotics situations. photo By steVe BRowN The Mobile Reserve trains alongside Two members of the Mobile Reserve practise the military depending on the level of apprehension tactics. training. There are three levels: level one policing deals with hot spot gangs; and level three policing deals occupation, raids, cordon and search with major criminal gangs. Once recruits are transferred to the operations and curfews; level two Mobile Reserve from training school, policing deals with minor criminal
they are given three weeks advanced training. Some of the areas in which the new recruits are trained include advanced building entries, staircase exercises which would include manoeuvring stairs under fire, how to get in and out, and to secure oneself while neutralising operatives who are shooters or hostile persons. Training also includes a lot of field activities, which is a must, according to DSP Turner. Field activities include endurance tests, techniques in dealing with water situations and long hours through bushes. The Mobile Reserve now stands at over 600 members and they have endured it all. DSP Turner also pointed out that in some cases, females have outshone their male counterparts when it comes to enduring the training provided at the Mobile Reserve. Paramount to this is the united effort of the Mobile Reserve and the Firearm and Tactical Training Unit (FTTU).
COMMANDANT SPEAKS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 into the police force. Therefore, our thrust now is to stay with a strategic direction and recruit the brightest and the best for the JCF.” “We have demilitarised training, so when you come to the JPA, you will get the impression that it is a university, and that is in fact what it is,” said the Commandant. “Therefore, many of the responsibilities at the JPA for learning rests with the students, we only facilitate it. We tell them what we want them to do, and they deliver,” said SSP Welsh. SSP Welsh went further to explain that what has changed at the JPA is not the material that is being taught, but the method by which the message is being delivered. This, he said, is due to the JPA’s evolution in keeping with a globalised world, whose citizens – today’s students – are technologically savvy. “In my days, you had to take notes. Today, it is no longer that way; we now deliver with PowerPoint and multimedia,” said SSP Welsh. “Students who come in now are probably just as equipped to deliver the message that they are being taught, so the instructors are up-to-date with curriculum development and lesson designs.” He added that the Mico University College and the HEART Trust/NTA have assisted greatly with curriculum development. There are some challenges though. “When people have gone through four years of university and through the rigours of discipline and
academia and they come here, they sometimes come with a chip on their shoulder,” said Senior Superintendent Welsh. “So when you give that person a rifle and tell them to press up or to get down into the not-so-clean water, they might feel it is a little bit below them. However, when they understand that it is a part of training and that it is preparing them for the realities of the outside world,
“I believe that you preach a better message with your life than with your lips.” they comply.” SSP Welsh is of the conviction though that guidance, leadership and mentorship are integral to overcoming the challenges. “I believe that you preach a better message with your life than with your lips,” SSP Welsh told the Police Mirror. “And my primary role here is to model what I want these youngsters to become.” He is therefore committed to the JCF and is adamant that for a young adult with potential, whether fresh out of school or not, the JCF is where he or she should be. “The JCF is a multi-faceted organisation. It is the
According to DSP Turner, the Mobile Reserve has the option of visiting while recruits are in training, to identify people for the division. Since the joint effort with the FTTU many of the trainers from Mobile Reserve have gone to the FTTU to be better qualified or certified and are presently at the JCF’s training school. Recruits coming out of training school are better able to handle the training situation at the Mobile Reserve because they are being trained by people who have been trained at the Mobile Reserve. “We are taking a dynamic approach to training at the Mobile Reserve,” said DSP Turner. “This is so we can remain ahead of the criminals, constantly revising and improving our training syllabus, so for new recruits, it will not be handed to you but you will like it.”
- Anika Richards
only organisation that allows you the opportunity to become everything that you want to be instantly,” said Senior Superintendent Welsh. He explained further, “You enter training and the initial training is four-and-a-half or five months, but by the end of that you could end up being a lecturer at the academy. At the end of that, you could end up at the Medical Services Branch – practising medicine; you could end up at strategic implementation and that is planning; you could end up at Motorised Patrol, or you could go to the Canine Division, or Transport and Repairs. “And if you are bright and good-looking, you could end up at the Constabulary Communication Network (CCN),” said SSP Welsh, laughing. The son who fulfilled his father’s dream went further in his career. SSP Welsh is also a minister of religion, and it is his work in this field, as a force chaplain, that has given him the few regrets he has had in the police force. “My heart bleeds for the level of care that goes out for law enforcement practitioners. That is why I have taken on the lifelong calling of being a chaplain, someone who cares for those who are hurting, who ministers to the minister, who cares for the police officer after he completes a difficult duty that draws on his emotions,” said Senior Superintendent Welsh. “My regret is I do not believe enough is being done to facilitate that kind of care. In fact, I do not think enough is being done to educate police officers on self-care, and if I had it to do all over again, that is what I would take care of: creating an atmosphere, creating awareness, creating a capacity in these people to care for themselves, because indeed, if they are not around to care for us, then God help us,” SSP Welsh said.
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Jamaica Constabulary Force
s g n i s Mu of a recruit le Constab
By Renee Barham
T
en months after setting foot at the Recruiting Centre in downtown Kingston, I finally made the enlistment list for Batch 90 - civilians who would be transformed into police officers.
On my first day, I felt like a police officer for approximately 10 seconds, when I realised that I was unpacking my items at a government institution. That first day was the most restful. I slept and slept and slept. Sadly, it was the only one of its kind. The first two weeks of training, during orientation week and the week after, were the worst. Things sometimes seemed disorganised. I often felt bewildered. One minute one instruction was issued and two minutes later a different one followed. But ‘out of bad comes good’, or at least so I was told. One thing is for sure, during those two weeks, I became extremely conscious of what ‘at a moment’s notice’ meant. I had to get used to taking orders very quickly. Coming from a place where I decided what I did and when, I was suddenly being told when to eat, sleep, drink, work and play. However, it helped to improve my time management skills. Service in the Mess Hall could have been better. Meals were served late on numerous occasions – 15 to 20 minutes after the scheduled time, so there were
ells t m a h r e Ba
Rene
times when I had to skip meals. (Technically, the option to wait was available, but that would mean being late for class and at the JPA, lateness is not tolerated) I still wonder if it was intentional, and if the practice was a part of our training, to test our tolerance. As the days went by, the police lifestyle started to emerge. I’m still amazed at the adjustments I’ve made. I realised that I cannot be a civilian and a police officer at the same time. It’s just impossible. Most aspects of my life have changed. My posture, my dress, my timing, and my temperament are all noticeably different. I’m especially amazed at the change in my temperament. I was an easy going individual, but I spoke my mind. But while in training, I found that this had to change, because some things are best left for a later time, or just left unspoken. It was great lyming with instructors and learning from them outside the classroom. They encouraged my leadership qualities and urged me to motivate and influence those around me. The simulation exercise was another high point. Learning what it was like for police officers caught in a shoot-out, understanding the procedures to be followed and the on-the-spot decisions that the commander in charge must make, was amazing. What I learnt during that exercise might make the
‘By far though, my newfound discipline is the one thing I cherish the most from my training at the JPA’
photos By youlANDA heNRy
Anywhere. That’s where a good constable must be able to make his bed, because the world of policing can present one with all kinds of situations. So said one instructor to this group of recruits as they waited for their turn to tackle the urban village during field craft training at the Jamaica Police Academy in July 2010.
all
One thing every recruit knows is that anything can be a bed if one is tired enough. One recruit is pictured here making use of some scarce downtime during field craft training at the Jamaica Police Academy in July 2010.
difference between life and death for either myself or a colleague one day. Because of my training, I am more cognisant of my surroundings; I pay close attention to detail; I know the importance of listening more and talking less, and I am able to identify and detect misleading information. By far though, my new-found discipline is the one thing I cherish the most from my training at the JPA. The discipline at the JPA is incomparable to any organisation or institution I’ve ever come across. I have no regrets. Training has made me a new person – a police officer. I look forward to facing greater challenges, to overcoming all obstacles — with the Creator as my guide — and to being a productive member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
Field craft was described as the ‘hardest part of training’ for most recruits. With all that hard work, it’s no wonder this recruit had to stop for a water break during training at the JPA in July 2010.
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