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Of police rank and foil
published: Monday | October 22, 2007
Garth Rattray
In 1993, when retired Jamaica Defence Force Colonel Trevor Macmillan was appointed Commissioner of Police, I was very concerned about his ability to perform efficiently in an unfamiliar post. I was also worried about the morale of the force and wondered if he would receive the full cooperation and support of his immediate subordinates who probably felt usurped. He surprised and impressed everyone when (as head honcho from 1993 to 1996) he instilled discipline within the force and revolutionised many operating procedures. He also cleared the way for the emergence of intellectualism from within that organisation.
It may, therefore, seem incongruous for me to express my deep concern at the very distinct possibility that someone from outside the constabulary will serve as Commissioner of Police. I know that in their wisdom, the Police Services Commission will choose the very best candidate for the job; however, I had expected that after whatever problem(s) caused the seeking of an outsider for Commissioner of Police in 1993, systems would have been put in place to correct those (obviously serious) deficiencies.
Rev. Dr. Michael Friday, past chaplain/ psychologist/counsellor to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), is uniquely qualified to speak to the negative impact that appointing an outside Commissioner of Police would have on the morale and motivation of police officers. He eloquently states (in his letter to the editor 2007/10/13):
"In an organisation characterised by clear and distinct ranks and earned promotion through those ranks, the crowning of someone outside the JCF as Commissioner of Police, except in extreme and special circumstances, may suggest the following: (1) a denial of the purpose and value of the ranks and the ranking system (2) a denial of the value of promotions and the development of the leadership in the ranks (3) an admission of the failure of the training through which officers have gone (4) an admission of the waste of money and time spent on training these officers (5) an implied worth-lessness of the leadership within, and the organisation itself."
Be better equipped
Advertising the post of Commissioner of Police as one requiring "strong managerial experience" negates most of the intense training that policemen and women must undertake for advancement within the force. In preparation for becoming the Commissioner of Police, candidate officers should, therefore, be encouraged to concentrate on equipping themselves with management degrees and forego the study of 'police' and police-related studies (including law degrees), which are apparently a waste of time, money, resources and effectively foils (defeats) their career advancement. Why bother to risk family, life and limb coming up through the ranks when anyone from anywhere can attain the coveted rank (prize) of Commissioner of Police without paying their dues by experiencing the hardships and vicissitudes of that organisation?
The current path of the Police Services Commission is clearly a fait accompli, it therefore seems to me that for members of the constabulary to realise their goal of self-actualisation - from Maslow's hierarchy of needs - the force must revamp its organisational system.
Obviously, it needs to be made clear that the Commissioner of Police is an appointed managerial/administrative post and not an earned rank. For the good of the force, policemen and women should be encouraged to specialise early in their careers and aspire towards becoming department heads - Assistant Commis-sioners of Police - in criminology, forensics, law, human resource management, weaponry, interdiction, fraud, traffic, community policing and so on. That would allow our very dedicated police officers to maintain their drive, efficiency and dignity while setting achievable personal goals.
Dr. Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.Email: garthrattray@gmail.com.
published: Monday | October 22, 2007
Garth Rattray
In 1993, when retired Jamaica Defence Force Colonel Trevor Macmillan was appointed Commissioner of Police, I was very concerned about his ability to perform efficiently in an unfamiliar post. I was also worried about the morale of the force and wondered if he would receive the full cooperation and support of his immediate subordinates who probably felt usurped. He surprised and impressed everyone when (as head honcho from 1993 to 1996) he instilled discipline within the force and revolutionised many operating procedures. He also cleared the way for the emergence of intellectualism from within that organisation.
It may, therefore, seem incongruous for me to express my deep concern at the very distinct possibility that someone from outside the constabulary will serve as Commissioner of Police. I know that in their wisdom, the Police Services Commission will choose the very best candidate for the job; however, I had expected that after whatever problem(s) caused the seeking of an outsider for Commissioner of Police in 1993, systems would have been put in place to correct those (obviously serious) deficiencies.
Rev. Dr. Michael Friday, past chaplain/ psychologist/counsellor to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), is uniquely qualified to speak to the negative impact that appointing an outside Commissioner of Police would have on the morale and motivation of police officers. He eloquently states (in his letter to the editor 2007/10/13):
"In an organisation characterised by clear and distinct ranks and earned promotion through those ranks, the crowning of someone outside the JCF as Commissioner of Police, except in extreme and special circumstances, may suggest the following: (1) a denial of the purpose and value of the ranks and the ranking system (2) a denial of the value of promotions and the development of the leadership in the ranks (3) an admission of the failure of the training through which officers have gone (4) an admission of the waste of money and time spent on training these officers (5) an implied worth-lessness of the leadership within, and the organisation itself."
Be better equipped
Advertising the post of Commissioner of Police as one requiring "strong managerial experience" negates most of the intense training that policemen and women must undertake for advancement within the force. In preparation for becoming the Commissioner of Police, candidate officers should, therefore, be encouraged to concentrate on equipping themselves with management degrees and forego the study of 'police' and police-related studies (including law degrees), which are apparently a waste of time, money, resources and effectively foils (defeats) their career advancement. Why bother to risk family, life and limb coming up through the ranks when anyone from anywhere can attain the coveted rank (prize) of Commissioner of Police without paying their dues by experiencing the hardships and vicissitudes of that organisation?
The current path of the Police Services Commission is clearly a fait accompli, it therefore seems to me that for members of the constabulary to realise their goal of self-actualisation - from Maslow's hierarchy of needs - the force must revamp its organisational system.
Obviously, it needs to be made clear that the Commissioner of Police is an appointed managerial/administrative post and not an earned rank. For the good of the force, policemen and women should be encouraged to specialise early in their careers and aspire towards becoming department heads - Assistant Commis-sioners of Police - in criminology, forensics, law, human resource management, weaponry, interdiction, fraud, traffic, community policing and so on. That would allow our very dedicated police officers to maintain their drive, efficiency and dignity while setting achievable personal goals.
Dr. Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice.Email: garthrattray@gmail.com.