One hundred and two (102) men and women from across the 19 policing divisions of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) completed the Specialised Operations Level 2 Tactical Course at the Specialised Tactical Academy in Kingston on Friday, September 27.
The three-week-long course, which commenced on Sunday, September 8, is part of an ongoing mandate to have members of the JCF become experts in dealing with hostile situations.
"These policemen and women left their families and became one unit with one goal: to learn as much as is physically necessary to alleviate crime and violence in their country.
The lessons taught were invaluable and were delivered through lectures as well as practical and real-life experiences," the police high command said in a release.
The course was compact, and the lessons covered thirteen crucial topics, namely: Doctrine of Specialised Operations, Effective Communication, The Use of Force Policy, Weapons Handling, Multiple Patrol, Urban Patrol, Public Order, Intelligence Gathering, Field First Aid Assistance, Building Entry, Target Indicators, Vehicle Interdiction, and Conducting Vehicle and People Checkpoints.
"While these men and women were becoming specialists in these areas, they were also given significant training in handling operational activities, received extensive exposure to the range, and had their endurance tested through a twelve-mile walk from Irish Town to Catherine’s Peak," the release stated.
Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Howard Chambers, Commanding Officer in charge of Specialised Operations, congratulated and commended every member of the team for enduring what he described as rigorous training that affected the members both physically and mentally.
“After these 21 days of training, you are not only equipped to handle matters that affect this country, but also those that affect the world,” he said.
Head of Police Area 3, Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Allen, also addressed the group and gave them a charge.
“I urge you not to take your training for granted. The JCF is transforming, and as such, we must be equipped to effectively deal with the ever-evolving criminal network. Use this training for your personal safety and the safety of our country.”
The course overview was provided by Assistant Superintendent of Police Romario Reid, Training Officer, who not only highlighted how the members progressed through the course but also gave special thanks to facilitators, both internal and external; including specialists from the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF).
The JDF provided a wealth of knowledge to the members, particularly regarding field experiences.
Overall, the members were reminded of the journey of transformation that now exists in the organisation. They were further reminded of the JCF’s “People, Quality, and Technology” mandate, and were encouraged to continue absorbing these training exercises to be part of the “quality” that will drive change.
The re-sensitisation of these 102 JCF personnel is in keeping with the mandate of operational policing, which is to provide control during hostile situations in a trained and tactical manner.
