JCF an Employer of Choice – Minister Chang

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is now an “employer of choice” attracting some of the country’s brightest and best young talents, says Minister of National Security, Hon. Dr. Horace Chang.

He was delivering the keynote address at the JCF’s Passing-Out Parade, Certificate and Award Ceremony held on Friday (June 9) at the National Police College of Jamaica (NPCJ) in Twickenham Park, St. Catherine.

Minister Chang said that the Administration is delivering on its commitment to make the necessary investments in the Force, and continues to build out a strong organisation by providing the requisite resources to allow for the recruitment and training of up to 1,500 new applicants each year.

He noted that the specialised training programmes have been expanded to ensure that there is an adequate number of sub-officers to supervise new recruits.

In addition, the upgrading and modernisation of the physical infrastructure is ongoing, as well as the provision of up-to-date communication systems to boost operational efficiency.

“We have implemented significant changes to ensure that you, graduates, are equipped as modern police officers. These include training and sensitisation on gender-based violence, customer service, emotional intelligence, rights-based approaches to policing, and operational skills to effectively combat violence producers,” he added.

Minister Chang underscored that the Government, through massive investments, is reshaping the organisational culture of the JCF to ensure that the professional and ethical standards are maintained, pointing out that the Force has implemented “significant changes” to its recruitment and training programmes in recent years, which are aimed at instilling a “new sense of identity among our members”.

“The JCF has made deliberate efforts to reposition the institutional and cultural identity within several core formations, based on strong professional standards. These formations not only contribute to the overall identity of the Force, but their work transmits the message that the Force is a body of highly professional law enforcement practitioners,” he added.

Minister Chang told the new JCF members that as law enforcement officers they will engage with people at all levels of the society, including when persons are at the most vulnerable point in their lives, and reminded them that professional conduct is required at all times.