National Security Minister encourages newly minted police officers to serve with dignity

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, the Hon. Dr Horace Chang, urged the cohort of freshly minted police officers to be true to themselves and to the mission of serving the Jamaican people with dignity and due care.

He made the remarks earlier today at the Passing Out Parade, Certificate and Award Ceremony for 120 police officers at the National Police College of Jamaica, Twickenham Park, St. Catherine.

“Men and women of batch 136, you have chosen the noble, yet honourable profession of policing. Welcome to the Jamaica Constabulary Force,” the Minister said, adding “As the new generation of police officers, I know that you will contribute positively to the work of law enforcement”.

Minister Chang noted that good public order sets the framework for the development of society, reasoning that there is a natural alignment of interests between the police and the public.

He said both the police and citizenry ought to desire the same things that support the well-being of the society, stating the only difference is that the police must give full-time attention to the matters before them.

“Whenever you step out in the public domain, you are an autonomous, independent legal official, who has personal liability and responsibility for your actions and inaction (referred to as acts of commission and omission). In order to carry out your duties effectively, you must be unbiased, impartial and accountable for your actions at all times,” the Minister said.

Minister Chang noted that the new police officers entered the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) at the opportune time as the Force is undergoing a bold and aggressive transformation in culture, technology and infrastructure.

“You have benefitted from training in a modern philosophy of policing that is relevant to our Jamaican context. This means that you are equipped with most, if not all, of the modern requirements of policing,” he said.

Specialized training for the recent graduates includes training in gender-based violence and general rights-based approaches to policing. This cadre of police personnel will add to the force establishment, which currently stands above 12,000 for the first time in the more than the 150-year existence of the JCF.