Area 5 cops find unity, purpose in return of sports day

It was a moment deserving of high fives on Saturday as police personnel of varying ranks within the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) lay down their weapons and put their athletic prowess on display, working together for a common goal outside of crime-fighting.

Beating back the stress clock, managing fatigue and anxiety, while harnessing good mental health and wellness is what the JCF is trying to achieve with the reintroduction of sports as a catalyst for improved overall performance on the job.

The police Area 5, which comprises St Catherine North, St Catherine South, St Andrew North and St Thomas, was holding its athletics championships, a build-up to the national championships, at Calabar High School under the theme ‘Unity and Purpose, a force for good’.

Trust, innovation, motivation, resilience and partnership are the five pillars identified to inspire the camaraderie among the police personnel, who, after the day’s activities, would have to rejoin and redouble their efforts to ‘serve, protect and reassure the people of Jamaica’.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Christopher Phillips, in charge of Area 5 declared the games opened some minutes after 10 a.m., while declaring that sports in the constabulary had a rich and long history.

“Last year, sports was reintroduced into the JCF. Sports has had a long-standing tradition and [has been] part of our culture over the years. For some reason, there was a break for a little while ... but it was reintroduced last year, and it was the first some of our police officers were experiencing sports in the constabulary,” Phillips told The Gleaner.

Phillips said the JCF has a very aggressive type of recruitment and a lot of persons have enlisted, not knowing what sports was like in the force.

“They experienced it last year and so, this year, we have the opportunity to continue. This is also in preparation for the National Sports Day, so each area (1-5) would have their area sports, where you get a chance to have the athletes within the divisions and formations of the force put their talent on display, and from there we get our best athletes going into the National Sports Day.”

The JCF National Sports Day is set for May 30 and May 31.

Phillips said the police, especially in Area 5, really embrace the opportunity to showcase their athletic prowess.

“Its a part of the whole stress management for the police, understanding that we do have a stressful type of work. So this one day to unwind and to get a chance to even link up with some of their squad mates from training, and so on, it provides that opportunity and really brings us together as a team and I am happy for the opportunity,” Phillips said.

The day was productive, and it was not hard to gather that members were loyal to their respective divisions, from the displays on the track and on the fields to the cheers from the sideline.

“The athletes are upbeat, the temper has been set from last year, some persons having experienced what it is like; they were determined in their personal training. The divisional commanders have been very thorough in the preparation, and so we expect to have some really good performances” Phillips said.

There was a stakeholders race, community and police race, sack race, children of police officers race, long and short sprints, javelin, discus, high jump and long jump, to name a few.

“It’s part of showcasing the type of partnership and community relations that we have been building over the years and where we are with that. The support has increased tremendously and we welcome it. and sports is another area for us to just showcase the kind of police-citizen relationship that we want to have,” Phillips said.

The St Catherine South Police Division was the overall winner on the day.

Second place went to St Thomas, third place to St Catherine North, and fourth place to St Andrew North.

Acting Superintendent Randy Sweeney, head of the St Andrew North police, in whose division the meet was held, said though his team placed last, it was a respectable effort from them. At the same time, he extended congratulations to the winners.

“Sports in the JCF is something that is highly supported, especially the fact that it encourages camaraderie, it enhances morale, and supports a work-life balance and a healthy lifestyle. The Area 5 athletics championship is an example of how we embrace sports. It’s very competitive,” Sweeney told The Gleaner.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com