Police command course graduates urged to lead JCF reform with discipline and care

Thirty-five law enforcement officers from Jamaica, Turks and Caicos and the British Virgin Islands graduated from the 91st Staff and Junior Command Course at the National Police College of Jamaica in St. Catherine, where Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged the new cohort to treat public trust as central to modern policing.

The course, held under the theme “Leadership with heart, driving positive change”, began on March 2, 2026, and ended on May 22 after 12 weeks of hybrid training. Participants included 27 middle managers from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, six from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and two from the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force. The programme covered leadership, administration, investigations, intelligence, operations, communication, ethics and critical incident management.

Holness used his keynote address to speak on the police-involved shooting death of Latoya Bulgin in St. James, saying he extended condolences to her family and community. He noted that the officer involved had been interdicted and that an investigation was under way, while stressing that the state’s first duty is to preserve life.

The Prime Minister said Jamaica’s police operate in a difficult security environment shaped by gangs, illegal guns, transnational crime and public fear, but said those pressures make training, supervision and accountability more important. He also called for a sustained national education campaign on police-citizen encounters, saying both officers and members of the public need clearer standards for lawful, respectful interaction.

Holness said the Government intends to expand camera systems across the JCF, including body-worn cameras, patrol vehicle cameras and wider CCTV coverage. About 1,000 body-worn cameras are already in use, with another 1,000 being procured, and he said wider deployment would take two to three years because training, storage and evidence systems must also be built.

Deputy Commissioner Richard Stewart, representing Police Commissioner Dr. Kevin Blake, said the JCF’s reform work depends on leaders who combine technical skill with empathy and discipline. Course awards went to Inspector Kesha Griffiths for highest marks, Detective Inspector Ulette Lewis for best oral presentation and Detective Inspector Joseph Gray for best all-round performance.