An Outline for Reforming the JCF - David Trottman

Here we go again in denial; the bottom line is that a CORRUPT POLICE FORCE will never be able to effectively address CRIME & CORRUPTION simply because Citizens do not trust it and will not share what they know with it.  Therefore, what we ought to be concerned with is TRANSFORMATION OF THE JCF – NOT ANOTHER “CRIME PLAN”.

Reform of the JCF in its current state can only be achieved by a TOTAL REBUILD as follows:

1.       Set out a timeline of four to six months to phase out and phase in existing and new organizations simultaneously.  This will require the following steps to be carried out:

a)       Determine cut-over date from JCF to JCS-2017

b)      Give all members of the existing force the option during a six week window  of opportunity to enlist in the new JAMAICA CONSTABULARY SERVICE

c)       Revise staff orders and prepare new organizational structure

d)      Interview and vet all applicants using lie detector and stress interviews

e)      Confirm applicants passing selection criteria and match with organization and strategy going forward

f)        Review manpower requirements for JCS-2017 and recruit new members from the army; locally and overseas to fill out command structure and meet manpower needs

g)       Run appropriate orientation and training programs for members of new force

h)      Phase out old force and cut-over to new force as scheduled

2.It is recommended that the new arrangements should provide for the following:

a)       Mandatory re-enlistment of members every ten years

b)      Decentralization and introduction of high level civilian oversight mechanisms by parish for police operations

c)       The establishment of cross-cutting National Command Force (akin to the FBI) to act as a check on local police jurisdictions.  This command would include a national paramilitary strike force

d)      Modernized management practices such as introduction of electronic Station Diaries and statement collection and enterprise type database management interconnectivity

TINKERING AT THE FRINGES OF THE PROBLEM WON’T GET US ANYWHERE.