JCF FDLP seminar puts officers’ health, welfare and fitness under the spotlight

The Jamaica Constabulary Force’s Force Development and Logistics Portfolio (FDLP) staged a health and wellness seminar aimed at strengthening staff welfare, with Deputy Commissioner of Police Karina Powell Hood praising Deputy Superintendent Brown and his team for organising the session as part of the Force’s push to build the complete officer — fit for duty, family and public service.

Superintendent Raymond Wilson of the Welfare Branch outlined how the unit has grown since June 2018, when he was posted alone to the Commissioner’s office, into a branch of more than 80 people serving members islandwide. He said welfare had risen from strategic priority seven to four, with the High Command signalling it could climb further, and that systems now cover line-of-duty injury and death, deferred pensions, medical boards, gazetted-officer support and transfer interventions.

Wilson reported that between 2018 and the end of June the branch handled more than 3,360 on-duty injury cases linked to submissions exceeding $392 million, and that outreach had reached over 7,000 members. He described agreements for parish-based pharmacy and specialist care, a Welfare Information Management System, and a medical emergency app — inspired by the fatal crash of Corporal Carl — that is packaged and awaiting government approval and security clearance. Five new vehicles, he said, had been assigned to outposts rather than headquarters.

Dr Henry warned that international studies put the average police lifespan near 58, versus about 78 to 79 in the general population, citing stress, shift work, physical demand and poor diet. He said about 34 per cent of Jamaicans have hypertension and 40 per cent do not know it, noted the diagnostic threshold of 130/80, and urged regular screening for blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol, and age-appropriate cancer checks.

Superintendent Dr Claudia Campbell of Medical Services Branch (MSB) spoke on nutrition and fitness for peak performance, stressing balanced plates, hydration in heat, three meals a day and at least 150 minutes of weekly activity, including short post-meal walks. Dr Thomas and Miss Fuller addressed stress, burnout and resilience, while Dr Chenise Joe introduced MSB’s emerging dental service, with nurse Shasha Hustlin and hygienist Katie Bright supporting islandwide oral-health education and a planned dental facility at the National Police College.

Assistant Superintendent Roario Reed led a chair-and-bodyweight workout, and Detective DSP Crystal Morgan closed with thanks to presenters, clinical teams and House of CCN for audio-visual support. Organisers said a finance session is planned for the following week.