Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas (standing second left) meeting with members of the March Pen Road community in St. Catherine, recently. Mr. Thomas was discussing the new social intervention programme that will be implemented in the area. - NORMAN GRINDLEY
POLICING, AS WE all know, is a high-risk job and law officers place their lives on the line on a daily basis to ensure the safety of the general populace. Patrolling the streets of Kingston is not a walk in the park because of the many and varied encounters with death. In this week's column we look at Constable Donovan Cox who had one such encounter while he was on patrol in the St. Andrew North Division.
On their arrival at a scene, the police were greeted with gunfire, one of the bullets hitting Constable Cox, damaging his lung, shoulder, four of his ribs and clavicle. He could have died, but being an ardent reader of medical journals, Cox knew exactly what to do.
He eventually reached the hospital and after undergoing surgery and was commended by doctors on his resolve to stay alive. He is now in the recovery process which he says is difficult as he faces discomfort but with the help of God, family, friends and colleagues, he is recuperating satisfactorily.
Constable Cox was born in the parish of St. Andrew in 1974 and moved to St. James in 1976 with his family. From an early age he excelled in academics and athletics representing Cambridge Primary as head boy and was the champion athlete in 1986. In that same year he was awarded a scholarship to Cornwall College in Montego Bay.
At Cornwall College his exuberance continued and he represented the school as an athlete in local and national events.
He was a member of the karate, key and chess clubs, the cadet regiment and also played on the basketball team.
Constable Cox's strong, spiritual belief and high moral standard fuelled his interest to join the Jamaica Constabulary Force. This was, however, thwarted by his father who was not sure that he was ready to take on such a responsibility. Taking parental advice, he went on to the Kenilworth HEART Academy in Hanover where he completed a course in information technology.
In March 1999, Constable Cox enlisted in the JCF after working seven years at the King Street Tax Office. He remembers boarding the truck at the Jamaica Police Academy to travel to the cool hills of Eco Village in the Blue Mountains. After eight months of training in the 'Millennium Batch' of three hundred and thirty recruits, he was the valedictorian at his graduation.
Since then, he has done quite well in the force. On The Beat wishes him all the best.
CCN AFTERWORK SESSION
The Constabulary Communication Network will be hosting its second After Work Jam at CCN Square, 101 Old Hope Road on Friday, November 25. Music will be provided by CCN Disco with Guest DJ's from Fame FM. Guest Artistes will include the sensational Q.Q, Atomic and Mr. Pepper. Refreshments will be on sale.
POLICE SEEK WITNESS
The Constant Spring Police are seeking the assistance of members of the public in locating a witness in a case now before the courts.
The witness is Mark Dietrich of Little Kew Road, Kingston 10. The case will next be heard on Thursday, December 8.
Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Mr. Dietrich is being asked to call Detective Sergeant Pommels at 924-1435.
JCF NATIONAL COMMEMORATIVE AND MEMORIAL SERVICE
The Jamaica Constabulary Force will be having its National Commemorative and Memorial Service on Sunday, November 27, at the Calvary Baptist Church, Corinaldi Avenue, Montego Bay, St. James.
Similar church services will be held islandwide.
In Area 2, comprising the parishes of Portland, St. Mary and St. Ann, the service will be at the Salem Baptist Church, Runaway Bay, St. Ann commencing at 9:30 a.m.
The parishes of Manchester, St. Elizabeth and Clarendon in Area 3 will have their service at Knowles Road New Testament Church of God in Mandeville commencing at 10:00 a.m.
The Area 4 church service, consisting of Corporate Area divisions, will be at St. Michael's Anglican Church, Victoria Avenue, Kingston 16, at 10:00 a.m.
The Meadowbrook United Church at 2 Flemington Drive, Kingston 19, will host the Area 5 church service at 10:30 a.m. Area 5 consists of the following police divisions; St. Thomas, St. Andrew North and the two St. Catherine divisions.
The theme for this year's church service is 'Law Enforcement: A Divine Vocation.'
On The Beat is a production of the Constabulary Communication Network. For further information contact Inspector Victor Henry, Sergeant Jubert Llewellyn or Corporal Natasha Green at
978-2729.
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