We care, says JCF Chaplaincy Branch
Pastors going all out for cops
POLICE PERSONNEL are usually held to high standards, however, often, we forget that they are humans, too. They are expected to maintain professionalism while interacting with the general public. However, many of us do not know what happens behind the scenes and how their high-stress jobs affect their daily lives.
Often, we think of them as machines that dispense justice without empathy and with complete apathy towards those they serve and protect. However, police personnel undergo extreme levels of stress, leading to a host of physical and mental problems, which most persons do not realise.
Pastor Dr Gary Buddoo-Fletcher, chaplain of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), says that members are often exposed to traumatic events, and as such, peer counsellors are strategically placed in various geographic divisions of the force and are supported by volunteers.
“We believe in the spiritual, psychological, physical, and emotional well-being of our officers. There are officers who need intervention who will come to us for assistance and others that are referred to us,” Buddoo- Fletcher said.
Every officer, he said, who has been exposed to critical incidents has to be counselled before going back on duty. “In the case of these occurrences, there is a stress debriefing session. If any police officer discharges his or her firearm, whether personal or that of the JCF, even if it’s an accidental discharge or a shooting, they are immediately taken off frontline duty,” BuddhooFletcher said. The JCF, he said, assists its member to cope with the after effects of the events surrounding the discharge of their firearm, and a counselling session is organised. Based on the outcome of the sessions, the counsellor he said, would then determine if it is necessary for the officer to participate in follow-up counselling.
WELL-BEING OF MEMBERS A PRIORITY
The role of the Chaplaincy Branch, he said, is essentially responsible for the well-being and the optimum functioning of the members of the force. “In these critical incidents, even if it is a case that they were not directly involved, they are also required to participate in counselling,” he said.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Police Dahlia Garrick, who is now the acting head of the Corporate Communication Unit, policing is a highstress job and constant support is given on a daily basis. “There is an inspirational devotional thought that is sent to every member of the police force each morning. We also believe in a proactive approach and not just assisting the officers after the fact. Stress management is also important to us as an individual and as law enforcement officers,” Garrick said. There are seven assistant chaplains who operate at the area level to provide assistance to members of the JCF. They are assisted by pastors and other volunteers who act as resource persons in order to add value to the programmes offered by the Chaplaincy Branch. Individuals who are selected for police chaplaincy duties must be an ordained minister with at least five years’ experience in ministry and are endorsed by their respective church communities.
‘We believe in the spiritual, psychological, physical and emotional wellbeing of our officers.‘