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<span style="font-weight: bold">News Source: OTGNR - </span>
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : 4 , 000 seek police ...( Observer )...</span>
THOUSANDS of Jamaicans, some with advanced degrees, are hammering on the 'doors' of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), seeking a chance to serve and protect as law enforcement officers.In fact, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bishop Gary Welsh, chaplain of the JCF and commandant in charge of the Jamaica Police Academy (JPA), says 4,000 men and women are currently waiting to be enlisted. ACP Welsh, who was addressing reporters and editors at the Observer's weekly Monday Exchange, said this is the longest the JCF waiting list has been in years."As we speak now, we have 4,000 persons waiting to join the Jamaica Constabulary Force, most of them are women and a large percentage of them are experienced persons with degrees up to master's level," Welsh explained.For the last two years, the JCF has seen a significant increase in the numbers of applicants, due in part to policy changes."Up to two years ago, we had what was called the granting of waivers. That was activated when we found applicants who did not meet the (entry) requirements. But we have since discontinued that. Not that we have put it in writing, but it's no longer necessary to grant waivers," Welsh said.He was, however, quick to agree that the job shortage in Jamaica is also a major factor spurring persons to join the police force."It is absolutely true that you have some persons who are coming to us because of the crisis that is out there, but it is also true that there are persons who are giving up their jobs and are taking a pay cut to come, and often, what we understand, it's not that they are in danger of losing their jobs, but they are looking for long-term employment, making a career (in law enforcement), and stability," said ACP Welsh.The Police Academy commandant, who oversees the day-to-day operations of the training facility, also said the number of graduates with university degrees has increased to about 300 over the last two years."We are pleased to say we have several trained teachers and we have several persons with degrees in public administration that are in training now," he added."There is also a police officer in training who will be graduating later this month who holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and speaks Spanish as his second language," Welsh said.He noted also that contrary to popular belief, many of the police officers who are often seen patrolling the streets are highly educated.Furthermore, ACP Welsh believes that the force benefits as an organisation when the high level of academic exposure of its officers is positively reflected in the manner in which they deal with the public."You will find nowadays that when you're stopped by an officer, you're no longer a 'boy', but he will say 'good morning, sir, may I have your driver's licence'," he said.ACP Welsh was at pains, however, to explain that although the JCF is looking to enlist the best and brightest minds, it was not only interested in recruiting university graduates.He noted that no one will be sidelined once they qualify to be a recruit.This was corroborated by the JCF's Director of Communication Karl Angell, who said that there is a high percentage of non-graduates who have also applied to the force.He explained that while the minimum requirement is five O'levels, there is some 'wiggle-room' as allowances can be made for persons who have failed mathematics, but have passes in accounts or physics.In explaining why the JCF had such a long list of persons waiting for acceptance into the training programme, ACP Welsh said that there is a lack of space at the JPA in Twickenham Park, St Catherine, and even at the JCF's newest training facility at Tranquility Bay in St Elizabeth.In total, there are 516 police recruits in training; 178 at Tranquility Bay and 338 at Twickenham Park, however he said the facilities at the Twickenham Park academy are now being expanded to accommodate all JCF trainees.Angell also said that the constabulary needs an establishment of 12,000 cops to properly police the country.
<span style="font-weight: bold"> Confirmed : 4 , 000 seek police ...( Observer )...</span>
THOUSANDS of Jamaicans, some with advanced degrees, are hammering on the 'doors' of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), seeking a chance to serve and protect as law enforcement officers.In fact, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Bishop Gary Welsh, chaplain of the JCF and commandant in charge of the Jamaica Police Academy (JPA), says 4,000 men and women are currently waiting to be enlisted. ACP Welsh, who was addressing reporters and editors at the Observer's weekly Monday Exchange, said this is the longest the JCF waiting list has been in years."As we speak now, we have 4,000 persons waiting to join the Jamaica Constabulary Force, most of them are women and a large percentage of them are experienced persons with degrees up to master's level," Welsh explained.For the last two years, the JCF has seen a significant increase in the numbers of applicants, due in part to policy changes."Up to two years ago, we had what was called the granting of waivers. That was activated when we found applicants who did not meet the (entry) requirements. But we have since discontinued that. Not that we have put it in writing, but it's no longer necessary to grant waivers," Welsh said.He was, however, quick to agree that the job shortage in Jamaica is also a major factor spurring persons to join the police force."It is absolutely true that you have some persons who are coming to us because of the crisis that is out there, but it is also true that there are persons who are giving up their jobs and are taking a pay cut to come, and often, what we understand, it's not that they are in danger of losing their jobs, but they are looking for long-term employment, making a career (in law enforcement), and stability," said ACP Welsh.The Police Academy commandant, who oversees the day-to-day operations of the training facility, also said the number of graduates with university degrees has increased to about 300 over the last two years."We are pleased to say we have several trained teachers and we have several persons with degrees in public administration that are in training now," he added."There is also a police officer in training who will be graduating later this month who holds a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and speaks Spanish as his second language," Welsh said.He noted also that contrary to popular belief, many of the police officers who are often seen patrolling the streets are highly educated.Furthermore, ACP Welsh believes that the force benefits as an organisation when the high level of academic exposure of its officers is positively reflected in the manner in which they deal with the public."You will find nowadays that when you're stopped by an officer, you're no longer a 'boy', but he will say 'good morning, sir, may I have your driver's licence'," he said.ACP Welsh was at pains, however, to explain that although the JCF is looking to enlist the best and brightest minds, it was not only interested in recruiting university graduates.He noted that no one will be sidelined once they qualify to be a recruit.This was corroborated by the JCF's Director of Communication Karl Angell, who said that there is a high percentage of non-graduates who have also applied to the force.He explained that while the minimum requirement is five O'levels, there is some 'wiggle-room' as allowances can be made for persons who have failed mathematics, but have passes in accounts or physics.In explaining why the JCF had such a long list of persons waiting for acceptance into the training programme, ACP Welsh said that there is a lack of space at the JPA in Twickenham Park, St Catherine, and even at the JCF's newest training facility at Tranquility Bay in St Elizabeth.In total, there are 516 police recruits in training; 178 at Tranquility Bay and 338 at Twickenham Park, however he said the facilities at the Twickenham Park academy are now being expanded to accommodate all JCF trainees.Angell also said that the constabulary needs an establishment of 12,000 cops to properly police the country.