Woman DC takes top honours at inaugural award ceremony

Woman District Constable (DC), Mazilyn Miller Prince, of the Portmore Police Station in St. Catherine was on Tuesday (October 26) named District Constable of the Year.
The DC, who topped a field of 17 finalists from across the island, walked away with the coveted Minister’s trophy plus a cash incentive at the inaugural award ceremony held at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.
First runner up was DC Dalton Gyles of the Mandeville Police Station in Manchester, who received the Commissioner’s trophy and a cash prize, while third place went to DC Melford Innis of the Central Police Station, Kingston, who also received a trophy.
Mrs. Miller Prince was selected for the top honours based on her exemplary service and exceptional performance while carrying out her duties. The judges also took into consideration her deportment, dedication and work attitude. “I am truly delighted, excited and happy this evening for this honour,” she said during her acceptance speech. “This award signifies that our hard work (has been) recognised,” she further remarked.
The top District Constable said she was very proud of her achievement and would continue to perform her tasks with the utmost dedication and professionalism.
“I am sure I speak on behalf of my colleagues when I say that we will continue to give exemplary service to our country in the many areas of policing. We will continue to serve, protect and reassure Jamaica and, in doing so, developing partnership for safer communities,” she said.
Minister of National Security, Senator Dwight Nelson, commended the awardees for the critical role they continue to play in communities across Jamaica. He said the role and function of DCs have grown and expanded over the years to include a much wider scope of activities.
“District Constables are no longer merely rural police officers largely confined to police community and parish activities, but now can be found at all levels of policing activities in the broader fight against criminality and restoration of law and order,” he stated.
The Security Minister further noted that the Government has agreed on a new management authority for the police force, which means that the laws governing DCs would also have to be amended.
Superintendent James Forbes of the Community Safety Division, who brought greetings on behalf of Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington, congratulated the DCs for their exemplary work. “The District Constables are our first line of defence and you have always been that anchor that holds the police force together,” he remarked.
“Today, you have more powers than anybody in the Constabulary Force and as constables for the districts and the villages, valleys and the alleys; you surely have your wings spread right across the country,” he said.
President of the Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA), Wayne Jones, who was the keynote speaker, encouraged the DCs to continue to promote among their ranks, the highest levels of ethical behaviour and conduct despite the many challenges they might face in the execution of their duties.
“Very simple things, such as the way you speak to a citizen, the way you operate as a private citizen, the way you behave at a social function, the type of company with whom you associate, all this provides a type of barometer in the measurement of your character,” he noted.
The first annual District Constable of the Year Award was organised by the United District Constables Association, under the theme: ‘Professionalism and Integrity.’