JCF graduates encouraged to practise good policing
Published:Wednesday | September 1, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Nadisha Hunter, Gleaner Writer
At a time when the police are coming under pressure due to recent events depicting them in a negative light, a group of Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) graduates is being encouraged to abide by basic principles of society in order to be effective law enforcers.
The Reverend Dr Stevenson Samuels, chaplain of the University of the West Indies, yesterday challenged the graduates to love people, love principles and love the practices of policing in carrying out their duties.
Samuels was addressing the 81 male constables during a passing-out parade at Jamaica Police Academy in Twickenham Park, St Catherine.
"If you are going to be an effective police officer you must love principles," he said.
"Know what your principles and values are, you must know what you stand for, you must know what you believe about human life, you must know what you believe about honesty and truth, and you must embrace the good values of life."
Just recently, Detective Sergeant Lloyd Kelly was charged with murder after he was caught on camera firing a shot at Ian 'Chen-Singh' Lloyd in Buckfield, St Ann, late last month. The police had gone to Buckfield to apprehend Lloyd after he allegedly stabbed a woman to death in the community.
The Bureau of Special Investigations, under the direction of the Independent Commission of Investigations, is also probing the death of Constable Sheldon Williams, who was allegedly shot by police Sunday night after he was taken into custody for discharging his firearm while on a party boat.
Be highly educated
Yesterday, Samuels encouraged the new policemen to aspire to be highly educated, but to place more emphasis on practising good policing.
"As we have more graduates of universities in our ranks, I want us to be very careful that we do not just become a set of brilliant, book-oriented, smart, intellectual police. That has nothing to do with getting out there and becoming a great police officer protecting this country," he said.
"Part of the challenge, as a country becomes more academic and educational, is that its people forget that they should hit the ground and become on-the-ground professionals," he said.
The hundreds of relatives, friends and well-wishers who descended on the academy looked out for their loved ones as the graduating class paraded in unison.
The parade was accompanied by several camera flashes while some persons gripped their umbrellas close, protecting themselves from the hot morning sun.
Damion Manderson copped three of the seven awards given to the constables who were congratulated for displaying exemplary attitudes while in training.
He shared the awards for best Christian principles, best leadership qualities and the highest mark obtained with Marlon Johnson, David Bogle and Cavloyde Cherriton, respectively.