THERE IS AN extract from the Bible that says "young man I call upon you because you are strong". Many have answered the call over the centuries and a young constable in the Jamaica Constabulary Force, proved to be no exception. He is none other than Constable Coleridge Minto who is a Lay Preacher of the Jordon Road New Testament Church of God and an executive member of the Association of Christian Police Officers.
Constable Minto, who is stationed in the St. Andrew Central Police Division, has been proclaiming the gospel in schools, communities, churches, police youth clubs and at police stations. He enlisted in the JCF on March 8, 2003 and during training he served as spiritual leader and motivator to over 300 of his fellow recruits. The former class captain for his squad also excelled academically and was given the award for Best at Law on graduating from the Jamaica Police Academy.
Since that time the Christian cop has been making a valuable contribution in the society as a teacher, motivator, counsellor, adviser and preacher. The impact he has been making in communities was self evident when he was invited by the Stadium Police Consultative Committee to be the guest speaker at their annual community church service recently. He has given motivational talks at several educational institutions such as Gaynstead High, Holy Childhood, Ardenne, Priory High, St. Andrew High, Tarrant, St. Joseph's Teachers' College and to nurses at the University Hospital of the West Indies.
His ability to articulate well, his commitment, dedication and his passion for the job led his supervisors to recommend him for the Rookie Lasco Top Cop for St. Andrew Central Division and Area Four in 2004. He has been instrumental in assisting children to go back to school and in the same year he was one of several sponsors who assisted a student from the inner-city community. In 2005 he tripled his effort by awarding three scholarships to students at the Gaynstead High School in St. Andrew.
In aiming to become a world class motivational speaker, the Titchfield High School past student has pursued several courses including Voice and Speech at Creative Production and Training Center, Interviewing Techniques at Management Institute of National Development, Supervisory Management, Marketing, Labour Laws and Contact Law at the University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies. He is presently pursuing a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration at the University College of the Caribbean.
Speaking to On The Beat recently, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Linval Hutton, the officer in charge of the Kings House Police Post disclosed that Constable Minto exhibited "a high level of maturity, leadership and loyalty to his job". The ebullient Cop also received high praises from the Area Four Community Relations Coordinator; Sergeant Brendaline Chisholm, who stated that he has been very supportive and instrumental in community policing initiatives.
Commissioner Thomas presents plaque to American firearm training instructors
Commissioner of Police Mr. Lucius Thomas, on Friday October 14, presented plaques to two American Firearm Training Instructors, Messrs. Gary Hew and Michael Chin during a brief ceremony at the office of the Commissioner located at 103 Old Hope Road, Kingston 6.
The Commissioner, in presenting the plaques, extended profound gratitude to the two gentlemen for their invaluable service as it relates to firearms training for members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
Firearm instructors at the Police Academy benefited from the training course which ran from October 10 to 14.
Flying Squad detectives crack appliance racket
Months of intensive investigations by Kingston based Flying Squad Detectives reaped success on Saturday October 15 when stolen appliances valued at over $2M were recovered.
Two persons who were apprehended; a 38-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man will be charged with receiving stolen property. The man will also be charged with simple larceny and a number of other breaches of the Larceny Act.
Investigators told On The Beat that at about 7:00 a.m., they went to a house in Tredegar Park in St. Catherine accompanied by police personnel from the St. Catherine North Police Division. On entering the building, stolen items such as microwave ovens, car stereos, telephones, amplifiers, car parts, video and audio cassettes were seen strewn all over the house. A woman who was at the house was taken into custody. Further investigations led the cops to another house where the man was held.
Commanding Officer of the Flying Squad Deputy Superintendent Cornwall 'Bigga' Ford is appealing to members of the public who have had their homes or motor vehicles broken into in recent times, to visit the Flying Squad offices located at East Queen Street (adjacent to the Kingston Central Police station) to view the recovered items for identification.
On The Beat is a production of the Constabulary Communication Network. For further information contact Inspector Victor Henry, Sergeant Jubert Llewellyn, Corporal Natasha Green or Constable Oneil Patterson at 978-2729.
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