The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) proudly carries the tagline “A Force for Good,” but the recent reiteration of its “obey first, complain” policy, encouraging the public to follow police orders even if it violates their civil rights, is in clear contradiction to this slogan.
This policy is ironic in nature, evoking feelings of not only conformity but also abuse, lack of care, and the need to dehumanize individuals, which directly contradicts the JCF’s stated mission.
What if they said, “If we mistreat you, comply now and complain later”? Such language essentially acknowledges the possibility of abuse and expects citizens to accept it without question. With colonial overtones, this directive tells citizens to prepare for abuse and deal with it later. How can we expect people to respond positively to such a message?
Words have immense power. They can heal, hurt, break or unite. The language used by the JCF in its “solicit and complain” policy conveys a message of control rather than service. It implies that police are not there to protect and serve, but to enforce compliance, regardless of the legitimacy or fairness of their actions. This approach dispels support and fosters adversarial relationships between police and communities.
A deliberate approach
The JCF needs to adopt a more intentional and compassionate approach to communication. Instead of forcing compliance through fear, the JCF needs to foster a spirit of partnership and mutual respect. A more effective message is, “We ask for your cooperation in keeping you safe. We cannot keep you safe without your cooperation. With your involvement, we can achieve a beautiful Jamaica. This is your community. What do you want this community to become?” Such words empower people, not disempower them. When words disempower people, they feel and act disempowered. Empowering words can foster a collaborative and positive relationship between police and the community and highlight the community’s essential role in this process.
The JCF has already proven how powerful it can be in evoking positive emotions in people. Just look at the hugely successful Wanted Wednesdays initiative, which invites citizens to get involved in policing in creative ways, and is successful by actively engaging the community and asking them to take an active role in keeping them safe. It’s a clear example of how a collaborative approach can foster positive relationships between police and the community.
Impact
The “comply then complain” policy implicitly endorses an aggressive approach that increases tensions rather than defusing them. It suggests that citizens must prepare themselves to be mistreated and figure out how to respond later. This approach must be changed because it erodes the trust that is essential to effective policing. No reasonable person would accept such a policy with open arms because it violates the principles of dignity and respect. Not only is this policy ineffective, it is damaging to the relationship between the JCF and the community. It is time for a change.
1. Denial of Help: By suggesting that abuse is expected and temporarily tolerated, the policy creates barriers to public help. It encourages a defensive posture in which citizens feel they need to prepare for the possibility of abuse rather than cooperate with police.
2. Creativity of distrust: This directive conveys a lack of accountability and respect and erodes public trust in the police. People tend to view the police as an oppressive force rather than a protective service, hindering the JCF’s efforts to build positive relationships with the community.
Irony
The JCF’s tagline, “Force for Good,” contrasts sharply with the meaning of their policy of “Comply First, Complain.” The word “force” evokes memories of slavery and oppression, where power was exercised without regard for justice or humanity. While there are times when police must act forcefully without question or hesitation, that should not be the overall theme. When does good have to be forced?
Does JCF believe that the people they serve are inherently evil and must be coerced into good? Is that the energy behind the slogan? JCF needs to move away from this coercive language and approach and become a true force for good. Police should not be seen as a force to be feared, but as a supportive organization working in partnership with communities to ensure safety and justice. JCF has the potential to be a true “force of good” in Jamaica and now is the time to embrace that potential.
To realign JCF policies with transformational goals and build partnerships with citizens, I offer the following recommendations, which have the potential to bring about positive change.
1. Adopt collaborative language: Switch from commands that imply dominance to commands that foster collaboration. Use language that emphasizes mutual respect and cooperation for the safety of your community. Empower your community with language that encourages participation and collaboration, rather than enforcing compliance through fear.
2. Promote accountability and transparency: Put in place strong mechanisms to hold officers accountable for wrongdoing. Transparency of actions and decisions builds public trust and demonstrates the JCF’s commitment to serve and protect, not control. Clear procedures for dealing with complaints and grievances must be established and communicated to the public.
3. Engage in Public Communications: Develop and maintain clear and consistent communications about JCF’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of citizens. Public awareness campaigns and education programs can reinforce this commitment. Highlighting positive interactions and community partnerships, like Wanted Wednesdays, can showcase JCF’s role as a force for support and collaboration.
For people to trust JCF’s transformation, they need to see it go beyond technological advances and an active social media presence. Transformation is about changing policies and communications approaches, and building real trust and goodwill with the community.
The public is observant and often looks for reasons to distrust the police. It is important not to give them a reason. By always demonstrating respect and maintaining accountability, JCF can solidify change and foster positive relationships with the community, reassuring them of JCF’s commitment to change.
Tesha Allison is an attorney in Weston, Fla. Send your comments to columns@gleanerjm.com.