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Non-lethal police option
published: Monday | November 13, 2006 <DIV class=KonaBody>
<B v_vF0="0" IA7Zl="0">Garth Rattray [/B]</DIV>
The Sunday Herald of October 30, stated that, over the past five years, the Jamaican government had to pay out over $100 million (tax dollars) to victims of police assaults and shootings. The paper quoted Amnesty International as criticising the Jamaican police for the excessive use of force. The organisation stated that at least 168 people were killed by the police last year.
Although some rogue copes remain aggressive and trigger-happy (in spite of the best efforts of their various training and supervisory personnel), what often pertains are those situations where good cops encounter potentially serious or life-threatening situations and feel ill-equipped (helpless) to properly defend themselves and/or the endangered public without resorting to extreme force (the firearm).
The Jamaica Constabulary Force has therefore reinstituted a regular curriculum of self-defence as an integral part of the training for the students at the Police Academy. "Defensive Tactics' was incorporated in the 26 weeks of basic training in law and police duties, English language, sociology, psychology, government, community policing, human dignity, fundamental rights of the citizen, physical education, first aid, use and care of firearms and drill.
Fell off radar
Just prior to his reassignment, outgoing Commandant of the Police Academy, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kingsley Robinson, exuberantly explained to me that he was "battering the self-defence course back to life." He said that there used to be an established self-defence course at the police training school, but the programme "fell off the radar" some years ago. He resurrected the course and had it going since August this year.
The goal is to give the police other options so that they will feel confident when forced to take on armed suspects or criminals. Cops will have a wide range of defensive measures and not necessarily feel that they must resort to deadly force when attacked. SSP Robinson alluded to recent instances where the police arrested armed suspects by restraint and without the use of deadly force. He even related that he has used the self-defence taught to him as a student to disarm and take into custody a knife-wielding assailant.
SSP Robinson reported that Commissioner Thomas gave the current self-defence course his 110 per cent backing, and that he has consistently offered his commendations for the programme. The self-defence programme has engendered improved physical and mental discipline among the students and this has spread into other aspects of their training. SSP Robinson therefore hopes that the self-defence course (Defensive Tactics) will become a permanent part of the training curriculum at the Police Academy.
Martial arts
The job of training the students was contracted to the Jamaica Self-Defence Academy (JSDA). They utilise the Intekai Martial Arts system. Unlike traditional martial arts (which modify their techniques for close quarters combat), this system is designed for defensive skills. The Master Chief Instructor has 20 years experience in martial arts such as Choi Kwang Do, Jui-jitsu, Tae Kwon Do and military hand-to-hand combat. He believes that the police will "gain the knowledge, skills and confidence that will allow them to control a volatile situation without the absolute need for deadly force and to increase their chances for survival in the advent of an attack."
It is imperative that the police are provided with discipline, the alternative of calculated restra
published: Monday | November 13, 2006 <DIV class=KonaBody>
<B v_vF0="0" IA7Zl="0">Garth Rattray [/B]</DIV>
The Sunday Herald of October 30, stated that, over the past five years, the Jamaican government had to pay out over $100 million (tax dollars) to victims of police assaults and shootings. The paper quoted Amnesty International as criticising the Jamaican police for the excessive use of force. The organisation stated that at least 168 people were killed by the police last year.
Although some rogue copes remain aggressive and trigger-happy (in spite of the best efforts of their various training and supervisory personnel), what often pertains are those situations where good cops encounter potentially serious or life-threatening situations and feel ill-equipped (helpless) to properly defend themselves and/or the endangered public without resorting to extreme force (the firearm).
The Jamaica Constabulary Force has therefore reinstituted a regular curriculum of self-defence as an integral part of the training for the students at the Police Academy. "Defensive Tactics' was incorporated in the 26 weeks of basic training in law and police duties, English language, sociology, psychology, government, community policing, human dignity, fundamental rights of the citizen, physical education, first aid, use and care of firearms and drill.
Fell off radar
Just prior to his reassignment, outgoing Commandant of the Police Academy, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kingsley Robinson, exuberantly explained to me that he was "battering the self-defence course back to life." He said that there used to be an established self-defence course at the police training school, but the programme "fell off the radar" some years ago. He resurrected the course and had it going since August this year.
The goal is to give the police other options so that they will feel confident when forced to take on armed suspects or criminals. Cops will have a wide range of defensive measures and not necessarily feel that they must resort to deadly force when attacked. SSP Robinson alluded to recent instances where the police arrested armed suspects by restraint and without the use of deadly force. He even related that he has used the self-defence taught to him as a student to disarm and take into custody a knife-wielding assailant.
SSP Robinson reported that Commissioner Thomas gave the current self-defence course his 110 per cent backing, and that he has consistently offered his commendations for the programme. The self-defence programme has engendered improved physical and mental discipline among the students and this has spread into other aspects of their training. SSP Robinson therefore hopes that the self-defence course (Defensive Tactics) will become a permanent part of the training curriculum at the Police Academy.
Martial arts
The job of training the students was contracted to the Jamaica Self-Defence Academy (JSDA). They utilise the Intekai Martial Arts system. Unlike traditional martial arts (which modify their techniques for close quarters combat), this system is designed for defensive skills. The Master Chief Instructor has 20 years experience in martial arts such as Choi Kwang Do, Jui-jitsu, Tae Kwon Do and military hand-to-hand combat. He believes that the police will "gain the knowledge, skills and confidence that will allow them to control a volatile situation without the absolute need for deadly force and to increase their chances for survival in the advent of an attack."
It is imperative that the police are provided with discipline, the alternative of calculated restra