Pastor urges new police officers to ‘raise the bar’

by Eldonté Samuel

In keeping with the theme, ‘Success through faith and discipline’, keynote speaker Pastor Brent St Jean emphasised that in order for the more than 100 new members of the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force to be good officers, they must have faith.

“So whether you have your gun on your waist, or you have no gun on your waist, know that you are covered by the blood and your faith in God will see you through obstacles,” the Seventh Day Adventist Pastor said yesterday, April 25,2024, at the passing out parade for 113 new members of the constabulary at the Old Montrose Police Station.

He told the new members that being equipped with “good discipline” is being able to control the way they work, live and behave, especially when achieving a goal.

“Give quality work and always put your best foot forward”, Pastor Brent said, adding, “when you take that [uniform] off this evening you are still a police officer, wherever you go, whether you are in uniform or you are not in uniform you always have to respect the calling that you have chosen to fulfil. Respect it. Stand for it.”

Recalling his earlier years, the Pastor said growing up, when someone mentioned a police officer, “it reminded you of respect, accountability, dignity, integrity”.

He threw out a challenge to the new officers to “raise the bar high”, as now,persons seem to have lost respect for police officers. “I believe the respect you command will always be the respect that you get,” he noted.

The Pastor also urged the new officers to be mindful of their interactions.

“Watch how you interact with the public, control your emotions,” in every situation as it is inevitable that citizens will get on their nerves.

As well, he addressed the issue of men having children with multiple women and then “running away” from their responsibilities, pointing out that similarly, some women are on the “hit and run” bandwagon, referencing a song by dancehall artist, Shensea.

The Pastor said that this leads to broken homes where children are being raised without a mother or father.

“If you hit, stay and raise the child right and be that strong support that they need,” he urged.

Pastor Brent also cautioned women not to be men, as the force needs the “soft touch” that women bring.

“We need the finesse, we need the feminine touch, so don’t try to be a rugged man because you want people to respect you. Still be classy and be respectful, still be a woman and be respected”.

He challenged the new female officers, though, to demand respect from their male colleagues and those in society.

Further, that they will need to get rid of their old habits, noting that it is absurd to lock up someone for something that they also do.

“So don’t drink and drive, don’t be smoking weed in the corner, you are no longer on the block,” he said as he spoke directly to the young men.

Also in attendance at the parade yesterday was Governor General, Dame Susan Dougan. Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, and Acting Commissioner of Police, Enville Williams, as well as other officers of the police high command also addressed those present at the passing out parade.