Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
DCP JEVENE BENT
THE JAMAICA Constabulary Force (JCF) will start training 75 future senior officers on its three graduate recruitment and internal fast-tracking programmes by the end of this year, says Deputy Commissioner of Police Jevene Bent.
Two hundred civilians have already applied for the 25 places on the Graduate entry programme (GEP) over the past year. The Internal Graduate Development Programme (IGDP) and the Advanced Promotion Programme (APP) will both select 25 officers for fast-tracking from within the JCF.
The APP and IGDP programmes have been advertised, with an August 15 deadline for applications.
Advertisements for the graduate entry programme will not be placed until this weekend at the earliest.
IDENTIFYING YOUNG BRIGHT ASPIRANTS
DCP Bent told The Gleaner recently that the three are part of the JCF's reform and modernisation process, with previous graduate recruits now serving on boards of reform and modernisation. "We need to identify young bright aspirants from within the JCF and enthuse them, as all organisations need to at some point. We also need to bring in qualified graduates from outside."
Introduced in 1996, there had been some initial resistance to the graduate entry programme from within the JCF, said DCP Bent but "we now have an average of 45 members obtaining first degrees within the force, so it is something we are well used to and embrace as an organisation."
ADDITIONAL FOREIGN EXPERTISE
Outside these programmes, the JCF is looking to bring in additional foreign expertise to join DCP Mark Shields, who is in charge of the crime portfolio. Senior foreign officers are currently being interviewed to fill four posts at assistant commissioner level in the areas of homicide and serious crime investigation; professional standards and anti-corruption investigation; operations and firearms; community policing and crime disorder partnerships.
The programmes were being reintroduced (except the IGDP which is new) now said DCP Bent, to meet vacancies opening up within the JCF, including 15-26 at assistant superintendent rank. This rank has been reserved exclusively for GEP participants.
Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips had announced the programmes' reintroduction in his April budget debate. "Tertiary level education will be a prerequisite for promotion to and above the rank of Superintendent, beginning within the next three years," said Dr. Phillips.
All programmes will involve command courses at the Jamaica Constabulary Staff College in Twickenham Park, Spanish Town, and on-the-job training, managing police stations and units. APP candidates will take an associate degree in police studies at the University of Technology. GEP participants will take internships relevant to their qualifications as part of
the programme.
