Hoping For Change In Jamaica’s Police Force
Letter to the Jamaica Gleaner editor – Monday, August 31, 2009
From: Dehanna (dpwalker@can.rogers.com)
Re: Hoping for change in the police force
Dear Editor,
HAROLD MALCOLM’s letter, ‘Take Charge of the police force Mr Commissioner’, said it and summed it up nicely. I am a Jamaican who left the island when I was six years old, and even though I did not see any of the atrocities by the cops in Jamaicans, or maybe I was too young to remember, I listened to my parents, especially my dad speak of it.
My dad grew up in one of the volatile areas of Jamaica, and he said he witnessed a lot of this, even though none happened to him, personally. I can remember visiting Jamaica last year with my husband and two small kids and witnessed a cop pulling a taxi driver over. The cop’s words were, “dutty bwoy you blind”, followed by Jamaican swear words … more
Tags : gleaner editor, letter to editor, Police Change
One Response to “Hoping For Change In Jamaica’s Police Force”
said on September 3rd, 2009 at 10:01 am
It is sad to know that police have that stigma attached to them and don’t seem to be doing anything to change this anytime soon. something has to be done! I only see it getting worse and the police and citizens being more enemies than anything else.its not fair to good cops, I know good cops who put their lives on the line everyday only to be looked upon with disdain!that’s wrong!
why so many police have to give people this impression that they are ignorant, violent people,as a youth one of the jobs I admired the most was police, maybe its because of my upbringing and the tv show’s of fearless heroic cops that I loved to watch, not being exposed to the violent acts of brutality by the “peace officers” so many people seem to have witnessed.
I am a young man looking to join the police force but who feels that I will be feared and hated by regular citizens just for wearing a uniform. why is it that someone has to ponder long and hard weather or not to be an officer of the law, not just because of the danger but mostly because of the fostered hate that so many people seem to have for them and the stigma attached? It is supposed to be a respectable job where one can feel pride and dignity knowing that they are there to serve and protect hard working innocent people. It sad. Despite the negativity, I still want to be a cop, maybe I can contribute to the change!!
What's your feedback on the item above?