Blake, 24, is SVG’s youngest ever ASP

Kamecia Blake, at age 24, has already stamped her name in the history books of St Vincent and the Grenadines by being the first ever Forensic Psychologist.{{more}}

Now, she has added another first to her name.

Less than a year after taking up assignment with the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force as a Forensic Psychologist, Blake was enlisted to the local constabulary at the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) on October 15, 2010, making her the youngest person ever to fill the post.

Since commencing work in March this year, Blake, who is currently attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Criminal Records Office (CRO) and the Major Crime Unit (MCU), has been charged with the responsibility of teaching forensic psychology, reasearch methods and data analysis at the police training school.

She is also responsible for carrying out offenders’ assesment, criminal profiling and investigative interviewing.

At present, because ASP Blake is attached to the CID, a plain clothes division, she will not wear the police uniform.

With a rich academic background, which includes a First Class honours degree in Psychology from the University of the West Indies and Master of Science degree in Forensic Psychology from the University of Portsmouth, Blake has also received training from the Wiltshire Probation Service in England and is ready for the new task at hand.

In an interview with SEARCHLIGHT earlier this week, the former national netball player expressed delight in the fact that she is the first civilian to join the police force at such a high rank.

“I was very excited when I got the news, but at the same time, I was wondering if I was really ready for the task that was ahead of me. However, being a person who takes on challenges, I was ready to embrace it,” Blake said with a broad grin.

Asked why she choose such a career, Blake said she always felt the need to be different and wanted to do somethiing of a difference to benefit St Vincent. “I studied Forensic Pyschology because there was a demand for it and the speciality was not in St Vincent,” she explained.

Blake is the daughter of Pamela and Raymond Knights, and a former student of the St. Joseph’s Convent Kingstown and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College.

She said, in making her decision, she wanted to create something new and make a name not only for herself, but her family.

Although her new position requires lower ranks to salute her and stand whenever she enters a room, Blake is not letting her accomplishments get to her head. “It’s not about that really. I can see the respect coming gradually and that is what it is about for me. You would either have persons happy for you or envying you, but I am not concentrating on the negatives. I never thought I would have been in this capacity, but I know God is directing me,” Blake asserted.

A former resident of Lower Middle Street, Blake disclosed that she was also motivated by her humble beginnings.

“I am proud that I am now in a position to help and I feel a sense of accomplishment to know that I have made my parents proud,” she added.

Blake is the first person to benefit from a recently approved policy recommendation made by the police.

The policy allows for accelerated promotion or graduate entry to the constabulary. ASP Blake will not be required to go take basic police duty courses at the New Montrose Police Station. She will, however, undergo a different type of training at a higher level.

Over a fifteen month period, she will be assigned to various divisions and sections of the police force for durations of three months each. While at each division, she will be under the mentorship of the head of that division.

Blake will be also required to conduct research on the laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the policy of the police force and force orders, etc., and present discussion papers on her findings to a panel. She will also be exposed to overseas professional police training courses.

In the few months that she has been involved with the police force, Blake has been the featured speaker at a number of conferences put on by the police.

ASP Blake advised young persons wishing to make something of life not to let their current situation limit them. “Put God first in everything that you do and success will be your final reward,” she urged.

As for future goals, Blake plans to read for her PhD.

Effective October 15, 2010, Inspector Kenneth John, head of the Traffic Department, was promoted to the rank of ASP. Inspector Elton Jackson, head of the Police Training School, was also made ASP, while ASP Reynold Hadaway, currently pursuing studies overseas, has been promoted to Superintendent.