Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake has praised the decision of the Officer Corps of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to cancel its annual Officers’ Cocktail and redirect the funds towards supporting communities most affected by the recent disaster caused by Hurricane Melissa.
The move, which has resulted in the launch of the JCF C.A.R.E initiative; Children, Advocacy, Restore and Empowerment, has been described by the Commissioner as a powerful demonstration of compassion, leadership and service, particularly during a period of national hardship.
In his latest Commissioner’s Corner published in the weekly Force Orders, Dr Blake said the decision reflected a clear understanding of the social and emotional challenges facing many Jamaicans as the Christmas season approaches.
“There has been a degree of uncertainty about how the disaster caused by Melissa will affect our people’s behaviour as they approach the usually festive season,” the Commissioner said. He noted that for severely affected individuals, “memories of times of better fortunes may result in depression and in some cases, aggressive behaviours stemmed from frustration and despair.”
Dr Blake emphasised that effective policing requires empathy and situational awareness, particularly in times of heightened stress. “While most of us are not psychologists, we have to understand the environment within which we operate,” he said, adding that persons who were previously cooperative may now appear “aggressive and confrontational”.
It was against this backdrop, the Commissioner explained, that the Officer Corps took the decision to forgo its annual social event and instead channel those resources into community support. “It is within that vein that we have made the decision to cancel the annual Officers’ Cocktail and diverted the funds to host treats in the communities most affected,” Dr Blake said.
He also highlighted that the initiative goes beyond redirected funds, noting that many members contributed directly from their own pockets, supported by partnerships that helped to expand the reach and impact of the programme.
The Commissioner commended the execution of the initiative, singling out the Corporate Communications Network and the Community Safety and Security teams for their role in coordinating the activities. “I want to recognise the creativity and compassion of the Corporate Communications Network, and the Community Safety and Security teams for masterfully organised and coordinated these events,” he said.
Dr Blake said the effort had turned adversity into opportunity, giving rise to a structured programme aimed at supporting children and families during what he described as “the bittersweet experience of a festive season and despair”.
The JCF C.A.R.E initiative now forms part of the Force’s broader community-centred approach, reinforcing the role of police officers not only in enforcing the law, but in standing with communities during moments of greatest need.
