Contributed
Inspector Paul Reynolds as 'Mr. Elegance'.Krista Henry, Staff Reporter
While changing the country through their vigilance, Jamaica's policemen help to lighten their souls and image through music. This year has not been the best for Jamaican police officers, with 20 from their ranks having been murdered, but they are keeping the faith through music.
There has been a continuous stream of policemen involved in music as deejays, singers, producers and more.
For Inspector Paul Reynolds, music has been a part of his life since birth. An inspector of police for St. Ann, assigned to the Ocho Rios Police Station, Reynolds has been fighting crime during the day for the last 13 years and then hits the studio and stage at night as 'Mr. Elegance'. "Three years ago when my mother died, I wrote a song about her death (Is It The Father's Will) and that song got pretty good airplay, going mainstream," he said. Mr. Elegance has also released other songs, such as Mama Won't Cry No More, Girl You Lied and Uproot the Spirit Of Fear.
Making musical strides
Currently in the process of releasing his debut album, entitled God Has Been Good To Me, Reynolds is making strides in his musical career. Being an officer has affected the persona of Mr. Elegance by influencing his writing, as he comments, "I've gone through a lot of experiences which have helped my writing. Policing is a very dangerous thing. Music is a great reliever of stress and that's how I view it, as my stress reliever."
As he loves both policing and music, Reynolds is looking to God to direct his future to whichever path it may lead. In the meantime, Reynolds has received the loyal support of his colleagues, family and friends. According to Reynolds, in the police force music is encouraged as a favourite pastime. "It is encouraged especially by former Commissioner of Police Lucius Thomas. The former commissioner liked to see things uplifting," he said.
The beautiful singing voice of Constable Marvin Fishley of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) assisted him in coming out on top of 10 finalists who sought to win a million dollars in the Tastee Talent Trail. Fishley won the competition recently, earning himself a million dollars in cash and prizes and seemingly, a bright future in music.
Sought exposure
Having been interested in music for as long as he can remember, Fishley entered the competition as a means of gaining exposure. Being a young artiste, Fishley has not officially released any songs, but has in the works gospel songs such as Testimony and He'll Come Through.
According to Fishley, his colleagues are elated and supportive of his musical endeavours. Fishley told The Sunday Gleaner that he is looking forward to careers in both policing and music, as he wants to be a premiere gospel artiste, a minister and be promoted in the force. "Being an officer, it influences me to pursue music more. It entails me seeing persons from different walks of life. Talking to the people gives me drive, to talk about them in my music, to sing for them, minister to them and write songs about prosperity and hope for them," he said.
It would seem that in the JCF, music is taken seriously, as there is a concert held in Emancipation Park on every first Sunday, entitled the 'Police Band Concert In The Park'. There, the force showcases a number of talents to a crowd of usually over a thousand persons at each staging.
Communication vehicle
According to producer and director for the show, ACP Leon Rose, the concert came out of the JCF's outreach programme. "We wanted to build our image and make contact through music. Music is an important vehicle for communication. It also showcases artistes and the talents of a lot of our actors in the organisation. We showcase music, poetry and dance," Rose said.
The concert began in 2003 and was originally directed by former Police Commissioner Francis Forbes and retired Deputy Commissioner Tilford Johnson. Since then, the concert has grown to accommodate crowds of up to 7,000 persons. According to Rose, there are numerous officers involved in the arts in some form.
He says, "A significant feature of the concert is the police band.We also have groups such as the St. Ann's Quartet, which is a classical group headed by Detective Sergeant English, which has done remarkably well. There is also Sergeant Harper who does dub poetry; we have Inspector Rowe who does social commentary. We also have deejays, persons who sing country and western. Then we have gospel, which is a significant feature of the JCF police choir."
More than just painting a friendly picture of the police force, the concert is also a means of assisting the officers to express themselves. "I think it has helped the force, so far as lifting the social image of our organisation and showcasing the police as performers and actors. We have got some good reviews in terms of our talent. It's a good family event," Rose told The Sunday Gleaner.
