Orville Taylor | Gender neutral JCF: good first step

It is “as symbolic as it is progressive”; newly minted Commissioner of Police Kevin Blake has removed the ‘W’ from before females federated ranks in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF); finally eliminating the ‘woe’ that distinguishes them from men.

Time flies. Some 39 years ago, a tall slim lady of light complexion walked into the industrial relations department of the Ministry of Labour for guidance and then chief director Anthony Irons pointed her to a skinny, highly melanised conciliation officer. Either a corporal or recently promoted sergeant of police, though younger than her, I saw the immense potential of just allowing women like her to take senior leadership positions in the JCF. A decade later, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Jevene Bent completed the master’s degree in human resource development at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

Fortuitously, four years after meeting Bent, a still young part-time academic was part of a now successful experiment, whereby the fledgling Management Institute for National Development (MIND) began a programme under the guidance of Claire Spence, to bring the UWI curriculum to rural-based public officers, who wished to ‘challenge’ the examinations of the institution, without the benefit of being internally matriculated.

Difficult to convince, a serious-faced police corporal, Novelette Grant, staring at me as if I were one of her prisoners, quietly made a bet that at some point, I would have to dig into my notes, because I could not possibly teach the entire semester straight from my head. Another eight later, she was in the same class graduating with Bent. Not much later, Mary Royes Henry en route to becoming a Superintendent (SP) herself, completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

At the end of their studies, this trifecta ‘handcuffed’ and dragged me over to the Training Division at Twickenham Park, and the rest is sociology (never history). They were a dream team.

Royes Henry became the first female commandant of the Jamaica Police Academy, Bent was the senior superintendent (SSP) and Grant the SP, assigned to that portfolio. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) LA Lawrence had the good sense to allow these women freedom to make decisions, including revolutionising the curriculum and recruiting policies.

Within two years, as chairman of the JCF staff college this team and I led it to become a registered tertiary institution recognised by the University Council of Jamaica. Internally, clear promotional guidelines accompanying a new recruitment policy, saw a young Blake, looking nervous in his navy-blue shorts, resembling ancient underwear made of steel, learning a different syllabus from his elders. Now, police had to absorb elements of behavioural science and other things, which these women clearly understood that a modern JCF needed.

LONG COMING

It has been long coming. Either Bent or Grant could have been the first female commissioner of police. And Grant came closest. After inexplicably first bypassing her and promoting her junior, an individual qualified in his own right, to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police, ‘the powers’ later worsened their insanity, discarding her for another decent bredren. The treatment of Grant was an insult to all women in the JCF and country on the whole.

Anyway, it now makes perfect sense, that Blake has moved towards gender neutrality, because as he climbed the ladder from testiculus canis, he had an ample opportunity to see the wonderful work that women, and in particular Grant and Bent, have done to the modern JCF. Indeed, if the progress of the JCF were a crime scene, their fingerprints would have been all over it. Many of the initiatives, which have to do with domestic violence, corporate strategy, promotion, training, corruption, sexual harassment, major investigation among others, are all traceable to the fair sex.

And never forget Ionie Ramsay and the cadre of women she inspired.

Given the spirit of the International Labour Convention 111, which deals with discrimination, the removal of gender distinctions is something I recommended more than 20 years ago. Having seen the work of the triumvirate, as well as the leadership in the erstwhile Special Constabulary, of women such as Olga Percy and Leonie Smythe Melhado, among others; there was absolutely no doubt that such distinctions were not only unnecessary, but potentially offensive and discriminatory. A good and modern police force must eliminate even the appearance of unfairness and injustice.

Of course, given the interdiction of the Chairman of the Police Federation, Rohan James, general secretary, and former chairman herself Arleen McBean is operationally at the helm.

However, we should never forget that often on a plantation, the slaves are their own enemies. My memory is very sharp that while Jamaica and women in particular celebrated McBean’s initial leadership and competence; an unpopular misogynistic minority attempted to drag her through the coals, denigrating her. There is no space for these attitudes in Blake’s JCF.

Still, there is indeed some utility when police officers are designated based on sex. When I first suggested the removal of gender tags, the explanation by operational officers was that they needed to ensure that there was some kind of gender balance when squads were being deployed. Typically, one would not wish to unwittingly dispatch an all-female operation.

However, internal identification is an easy fix by sub-officers in charge.

Our new commissioner’s affirmation of equality of treatment is well appreciated and certainly matches a deep-seated commitment to his oath of office. After all, sexual discrimination, even by reference, is antithetical to acting without ‘favour, affection, malice or ill will’. Finally, as commissioner he understands deeply, the importance of discretion, in the exercise of law and internal rules. Indeed, although not necessarily contravening Section 69 of the Constabulary Force Act, one can inadvertently create disaffection in the chain of succession below him.

Maybe, it is expecting too much, but the majority of women in the JCF would support his rescinding James’ interdiction, but allow for a fair disciplinary procedure and inquiry to continue as it should.

A policewoman; not a woman police, told me to ask him to.

Dr Orville Taylor is senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology at The University of the West Indies, a radio talk-show host, and author of ‘Broken Promises, Hearts and Pockets’. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and tayloronblackline@hotmail.com