Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
THE REPORTED high levels of stress among members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) was brought into sharp focus again Tuesday, following the suicide of Detective Sergeant Dave Edwards, who was attached to the May Pen CIB in Clarendon.
There are conflicting reports as to why Edwards shot himself in the head with the 9mm pistol assigned to him. He was reportedly depressed, following orders that he be transferred from Clarendon to the Half-Way Tree Police Station in St. Andrew.
It was also reported that the sub-officer was in a serious financial crisis, while informed police sources said he was involved in a triangular relationship which had gone sour, a matter which his colleagues are now investigating.
Speaking with The Gleaner on Wednesday, another constable with 14 years' experience and who is attached to the Constant Spring Police Station, said he too was thinking of "taking things to the extreme."
The officer said he was transferred from St. Elizabeth two years ago. Among his complaints are the high cost for petrol to travel, plus growing family problems.
"It is costing me about $1,000 daily for petrol and my salary is $30,000 per month. Right now my nine-year-old son is caught up with bad company and I am not there to talk him, because when I am leaving for work, he is sleeping. I have been to the Federation and the Chaplaincy Unit. I don't know what else to do now," the frustrated constable said.
NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
Dr. Vivian Panton, head of the JCF's Chaplaincy Unit, told The Gleaner that he has had to counsel several members of the JCF, many of whom are on the verge of a nervous breakdown. The majority of the cases he has dealt with are in relation to policemen displaced due to transfers and others who have been traumatised by family problems.
"When we check out some of these transfers, they are justified," commented Dr. Panton. He said the JCF has a very strong counselling programme, starting at the station level.
Sergeant David White, a trained counsellor and a member of the Central Executive of the Police Federation, said a large percentage of the rank and file officers are suffering from fatigue and sleep deprivation. He said as long the police are being overworked they will also be stressed.
About two months ago, Police Commissioner Francis Forbes said he was dissatisfied with the measures put in place to tackle the problem of stress in the Police Force. According to the Commissioner, he has, for some time, been asking for a full-time clinical psychologist to be employed to the JCF, to offer professional counselling.
Clinical psychiatrists Dr. Ruth Doorbar and Dr. Wendel Abel shared the view that the high crime rate can impact negatively on the police, which may lead to alcohol abuse.
