Like father, like daughters Twin sisters follow father’s footsteps into the JCF

What began as a proud father’s milestone in 2007 evolved into a powerful full-circle moment for David Ricketts 18 years later when twin daughters, Deanna and Deandra Ricketts, followed the path their father had carved before them.

In 2007, now Corporal David Ricketts celebrated his graduation from training school with a memorable photograph that captured his daughters sitting on his lap. Eighteen years later, they recreated the image at their own graduation ceremony, returning to their father’s lap as newly sworn police officers.

“It was a great feeling, because from day one they said they are going to recreate that picture,” the proud dad said.

Although the recreation took place about two years ago, the photos recently captured widespread attention after becoming part of dancehall artiste Valiant’s social media Time Capsule challenge. The renewed spotlight has brought the family’s story of determination and legacy to thousands of people across social media.

For Ricketts, the emotions remain as strong as they were on the day the photographs were taken.

“It is just pride, wul heap a pride; I feel proud of them,” he said.

The veteran policeman explained that his daughters spent much of their childhood around him while he was a trainee constable. Watching his journey firsthand sparked their curiosity about policing and eventually inspired them to pursue careers in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

“They saw what it was all about, and at first, I told them it is a lot more than what they see here; and they decided they wanted to try, and I had no objection,” he recalled.

For Deandra, who keeps the original graduation photograph in her room, the image serves as a daily reminder of how far the family has come and what can be achieved through hard work and perseverance.

“It is a big motivation for me, a very big wow moment because we don’t like failure, and like making our parent proud,” she said.

She admitted that neither she nor her sister anticipated the overwhelming response after she shared the side-by-side photographs online.

“I just posted it because they said growth, and I said this is growth! We didn’t expect it to go viral,” she said as family members laughed in the background.

Today, the sisters are building careers of their own in the profession that first inspired them as children. While they have been assigned to different divisions, adjusting to life apart has been challenging after spending virtually their entire lives together.

“We have never been separated. The only time was in high school when we were placed in different classes. But after we graduated and were dispatched to two different divisions, that was when we really had to adjust to being apart,” Deandra shared.

Deanna, who keeps the recreated 2025 graduation photograph, said she was the first to declare that they should join the force.

“We call every day, text every day,” she said, adding that both sisters remain proud of their decision to serve.

“Daddy and my stepmom trained us to be the strongest soldiers, so any obstacle, we can overcome them at any point.”

Deanna is also celebrating another significant achievement, having become one of two female police constables to make history as the first women to join the Trelawny Division’s Quick Response Team.

For Corporal Ricketts, however, pride is accompanied by concern and responsibility. As both a father and a police officer, he wants his daughters to understand the realities of the profession and to approach every assignment with caution, professionalism and respect.

“Make sure that they keep their heads on their body. At all times, what they need to do is to make sure that the risk with the job, they need to take it seriously. When going out there with the public, be respectful to everybody out