‘We are the gatekeepers’

DECLARING THEMSELVES the gatekeepers of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), members of its polygraph unit, who are now internationally certified polygraph examiners, have vowed to detect not only recruits who are seeking to deceive but persons in “sensitive” positions wanting to infiltrate the force.

The assurance came on Wednesday as five members of the JCF and two from the Department of Correctional Services were awarded polygraph certificates at a ceremony at the Office of the Commissioner of Police.

The seven completed a 10-week training programme at the New England Polygraph Institute in the United States through support from the United States Embassy.

“The overall aim is to have a corruptfree, better police force, and that starts with getting the standard right, from the gate,” declared Detective Sergeant Dwight Sommers, sub-officer in charge of JCF’s polygraph unit and one of the top performers in the training programme.

Sommers told The Gleaner that the focus on testing recruits as well as persons in sensitive positions would enhance the JCF’s operations both from an intelligence perspective and an operational perspective

“Internal testing will entail the vetting of persons in intelligence so as to prevent counter-intelligence or persons infiltrating our intelligence system, persons who are a part of sensitive areas such as lottery scamming task force, for instance. Given how rampant lottery scamming is in our country, we’re on a drive to vet persons in that field to prevent those who are undesirous of seeing the JCF succeed from infiltrating those portfolios. So, our drive will see those persons tested and the necessary filtering done,” he disclosed.

Since the formation of the polygraph unit in December last year, its members have tested close to 500 applicants and found adverse traces for more than 50.

Corporal Adrian Wellington, who attained the highest average in the programme, 98.66 per cent, further argued that training in areas such as psychology, physiology, cognitive interviewing and peace interviewing would go a far way in ensuring that recruits are truthful and upright.

He contended that this was also a major step towards ridding the force of the stigma of corruption and misconduct.

PHOTO EDITOR NORMAN GRINDLEY/CHIEF From left: Dameian Johnson, Dwight Sommers, Renado Harvey, Adrian Wellington, Cassandra Grant, of the Jamaica Constabulary Force; Noel Beckford and Anthony Ramsay of the Department of Correctional Services, after the ceremony to hand over polygraph examiners certificates to participants, held at the commissioner of police Old Hope Road offices, St Andrew, on Wednesday.