NPCJ To Be Awarded IADLEST Accreditation

The National Police College of Jamaica (NPCJ) is to be awarded the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) accreditation, during a ceremony to be held today (September 13).

Commissioner of Police, Dr. Kevin Blake, made the disclosure at a Justice of the Peace (JP) Sensitisation Session held virtually on Thursday (September 12).

“We have significantly revamped our training to the extent that our National Police College of Jamaica has achieved several accreditations, [and] we are [now] being awarded one of the most prestigious accreditations for police training academy. Of the over 300 academies that exist in this side of the world, only 34 academies have ever achieved this accreditation called IADLEST,” Dr. Blake stated.

“The JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) is one of that 34, so this is the result of revisiting and revamping how we train our members, how we treat with the quality [of training],” he added.

Dr. Blake pointed out that the JCF has the most sophisticated technology branch, which is served by personnel who have a high skillset and are certified.

“So, we have police officers that not only sit in a patrol car and do patrol, but actually do things that will be considered the non-traditional general policing, and so because of that, we have to ensure that our system of development and training incorporates these individuals,” he said.

“We have police who are electricians, and they have worked as electricians in the JCF for 20 years… and so we develop our training around these particular career paths and establish pathways for upward mobility for them within their respective domains,” he added.

Dr. Blake further noted that the NPCJ is aiming for programme accreditation for each of the training programmes they develop and deliver, which he said has been achieved for three basic categories of training.

The Commissioner explained that currently there are three basic categories of training at the JCF, including the basic training for civilians who enter the organisation to become police officers.

“Then we have the in-service training, so whilst you are a police officer, the training that is required to help you carry out your function; and then we look at the supervisor training. So far, our basic training has evolved into general policing Level Three, which is equivalent to NCTVET (National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training) level three, and our in-service advanced post basic level is a new training programme, which is equivalent to the NCTVET level four,” Dr. Blake said.

He pointed out that the next step is to get University Council of Jamaica accreditation, which the JCF is actively pursuing.

“I think we’re at stage nine of 10 stages in order to achieve this accreditation. At such point, when someone leaves the NPCJ basic training, they will be given an accredited diploma [and] after in-service training, associate degree. After the management training, they will be given the bachelor’s degree,” Dr. Blake said.

“So that takes care of all our rank and file, from constables all the way up to inspectors. And for officers, we have two main programmes of training, and these are revamped training programmes. One is our command course, which has been revamped to become the Occupational Advanced Diploma in Police Command Leadership and Management. Again, that’s one of the programmes that will be accredited,” he stated.

The Commissioner also informed that the JCF has 32 participants in pilot master’s programme in police strategic management with the Delaware State University.

“From this, we will be tailoring our own MBA in police leadership and delivering that, but for now we are doing it in partnership with Delaware State University,” he noted.

Regarding tactical training, Dr. Blake said over the last five months, the JCF has trained more than 600 members up to level two tactical.