Dear Editor,
In recent times we have seen how the police force in our nation has been marred by various extrajudicial killings, corruption on many different levels and poor management and stewardship of the commissioner of police, especially the incumbent. This is no different as politics is alive and well in the police force.
There are many young and upstanding members of the society who are desirous of becoming agents of change and peace agents within their communities and Jamaica at large, but are not given the opportunity to serve their country simply because they are "politically affiliated".
Well-educated and bright young men and women are being barred from entering the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) because the divisional training sub-officers in the various police divisions, upon carrying out their antecedents, were told that these upstanding young people, having done much in their communities for the development of other residence, are political activists.
If you should do a poll now among all the policemen and women who are attached to the Protective Services Division of the JCF, you will find that a JLP-aligned policeman will not be seen being a bodyguard to a PNP Cabinet Minister and vice-versa.
I strongly detest this action of the recruitment agents of the JCF and ISCF. St should not matter what political party one is affiliated with or aligned to, just as long as the person is capable of effectively carry out his or her duties as assigned to him/her by the Commissioner of Police through the area and divisional commanders.
Lest we forget the many former commissioners who ran for parliamentary seats and were ministers of Government and also now sitting on Government boards. Lest we FORGET!
Kemar Brown
Kemar.a.brown@hotmail.com
Politics and the police force
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In recent times we have seen how the police force in our nation has been marred by various extrajudicial killings, corruption on many different levels and poor management and stewardship of the commissioner of police, especially the incumbent. This is no different as politics is alive and well in the police force.
There are many young and upstanding members of the society who are desirous of becoming agents of change and peace agents within their communities and Jamaica at large, but are not given the opportunity to serve their country simply because they are "politically affiliated".
Well-educated and bright young men and women are being barred from entering the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) because the divisional training sub-officers in the various police divisions, upon carrying out their antecedents, were told that these upstanding young people, having done much in their communities for the development of other residence, are political activists.
If you should do a poll now among all the policemen and women who are attached to the Protective Services Division of the JCF, you will find that a JLP-aligned policeman will not be seen being a bodyguard to a PNP Cabinet Minister and vice-versa.
I strongly detest this action of the recruitment agents of the JCF and ISCF. St should not matter what political party one is affiliated with or aligned to, just as long as the person is capable of effectively carry out his or her duties as assigned to him/her by the Commissioner of Police through the area and divisional commanders.
Lest we forget the many former commissioners who ran for parliamentary seats and were ministers of Government and also now sitting on Government boards. Lest we FORGET!
Kemar Brown
Kemar.a.brown@hotmail.com
Politics and the police force
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