A heated argument between a male police sergeant and a female corporal at a police station in Trelawny last week almost became physical as the two verbally battled it out over the corporal's failure to report to work in the approved Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) uniform.

Reports reaching THE STAR are that about 3:30 p.m. on September 29, the woman corporal was slated for patrol duties when she showed up at work in casual wear (plain clothes). The sergeant is said to have told her that she would have to therefore do station duty.

A police source said that the corporal pointed out that she had spoken with the subofficer in charge of the station and informed him that the uniforms given to her could not fit. The sergeant in turn, however, told the woman he was not made aware of those concerns and the uniforms were not returned.

"So the corporal said that she would take the uniforms to the sergeant but he told her that he did not wear dresses and she should give them to her needy family," the police source said. "At this point, the corporal who was in a patrol car got out and the sergeant was still going on (arguing)."

The source continued: "The corporal then said that she was not arguing with the sergeant because he was carrying feelings because he was "looking her" and didn't get her. This was when the sergeant approached her and pointed his cellphone in her face and they continued arguing."

recent graduate

It is said that each time the corporal tried to step away she was prevented from doing so. Luckily, the source said, a recent graduate of the police academy was brave enough to step between the two parties to prevent the argument from turning into a physical fight.

But that was not the end of it, however. It is understood that after the two were parted, the woman corporal went to the guardroom to make an entry in the logbook about the confrontation. It is allged that the sergeant went there and wrestled the book from her before she could do so.

Yesterday, when THE STAR contacted Superintendent Lynette Williams-Martin, head of the Trelawny police, she said she has heard of an argument between two police personnel but had not yet received any formal report.

She said she would be unable to state if disciplinary action would be taken against the parties, as the situation would first have to be looked into.