Jamaica Constabulary Force
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is the police force for the island nation of Jamaica. The police force has manpower of approximately 8,000. The current commissioner is Lucius A. Thomas, of Saint Ann. In early 2005, Jamaican politician Edward Seaga called for the merger of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and Jamaica's military branch, the Jamaica Defence Force(JDF). This has not garnered any support among government officials, however. Approximately 49 police officers have been killed in the line of duty since 2002.
Contents |
[edit] Mission Statement
"The Mission of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and its Auxiliaries is to Serve, Protect, and Reassure the people in Jamaica through the delivery of impartial and professional services aimed at: Maintenance of Law & Order, Protection of Life & Property, Prevention and Detection of Crime, and Preservation of Peace."
[edit] History
The history of police in Jamaica begins in the year 1716 when Night watchmen were appointed to serve the cities of Port Royal, Kingston, and the parishes of Saint Catherine and Saint Andrew. In 1832, the first attempt to establish a permanent police force began. William Ramsay was appointed Inspector General of the police force in 1835. This police force of sorts continued service until the year 1865, which was the year the Morant Bay Rebellion took place. This rebellion showed the vulnerability of peace and law on Jamaica, and caused the establishment of a new, improved police force, called the Jamaica Constabulary Force. The Force began operation with 984 members under the management of an Inspector General appointed by the British Governor to the island. This new police force continues to carry out police duties to present-day.
[edit] Divisions
This is the list of divisions within the Jamaica Constabulary Force:
- Band Division
- Bureau of Special Investigations
- Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse
- Canine Division
- Community Relations Branch
- Complaints Division
- Special Anti-Crime Task Force
- Fraud Squad
- Internal Affairs
- Marine Division
- Motorized Patrol Division (The second largest JCF division, with 300 personnel)
- Mounted Troop Division
- Protective Services Division
- Telecommunications Division
- Tourism Liaison Division
[edit] Badge of Ranks
There are 11 ranks in the JCF. They are (In order of highest to lowest):
- Commissioner (Lucius A. Thomas as of January 2005;One laurel wreath and one crown on each shoulder strap)
- Deputy Commissioner (One laurel wreath and two stars on each shoulder strap)
- Assistant Commissioner (One laurel wreath on each shoulder strap)
- Senior Superintendent (One crown and one star on each shoulder strap)
- Superintendent (One crown on each shoulder strap)
- Deputy Superintendent (Three stars on each shoulder strap)
- Assistant Superintendent (Two stars on each shoulder strap)
- Inspector (Two metal bars on each shoulder strap)
- Sergent (Three chevrons on right sleeve)
- Corporal (Two chevrons on right sleeve)
- Constable (No badge assigned)
[edit] Justice of the Peace
A Justice of the Peace (JP), according to the Jamaica Constabulary Force, is a person of unquestionable integrity who seeks to promote and protect the rights of the individual and helps to provide justice to persons in a particular community. Additionally, the JP: serves as a justice in petty court sessions, attends juvenile court sessions, issues summonses, considers applications for bail, explains and signs legal documents, sits on licensing panels, and gives counsel/advice. Any Jamaican citizen that can speak and write English is eligible to become a JP. Any club/organisation/citizen can recommend someone to become JP for a community. JPs are chosen under the Governor-General's discretion.
[edit] Major Programmes
Operation Kingfish is the Jamaica Constabulary Force's major anti-crime initiative. Implemented in 2004, the purpose of the operation according to the Assistant Commissioner of Police Glenmuir Hinds is "...to dismantle the criminal network, and we are focusing on the 12 major highly organised criminal networks in Jamaica". Also, the operation seeks to disrupt illegal trafficking throughout the central and western Caribbean with the help of international partners. The first major bust of the Operation Kingfish programme was in late 2004, where American law enforcement, assisted by Jamaican and British counterparts, intercepted J$4 billion worth of cocaine destined for Jamaica.
