Inspectors on deck

Future leaders in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) are being warned to rethink the popular view that “knowledge is power”, as approaching leadership in this way can be dangerous and risk failing those they are meant to serve.

Instead, drawing on the wisdom of his father, a former policeman, Professor Densil Williams said knowledge should be seen as freedom.

The pro-vice-chancellor and principal of the Mona Campus of The University of the West Indies (UWI) delivered the charge to 100 soon-to-be inspectors during his address yesterday at the National Police College of Jamaica, during the graduation of the Inspector Development Programme, Cohort 1 of 2026.

“Many of you have heard that saying before, that knowledge is power. But then it struck me that we have to be careful, because if you’re entering leadership with the idea that you want power, it’s a dangerous thing,” he said.

The better approach, he added, is to view knowledge as freedom, “to provide you with a bandwidth so that you can gain new knowledge; unlearn the things that you have learned; prepare yourself so that you can have new knowledge, giving you new information at every point in your leadership foray”.

Williams further stressed that leadership is not about self-aggrandisement or self-actualisation.

“Leadership is really about using the space you have to assist those who are behind you to become their better selves. It is about selflessness and the sacrifice to help others make their mark. Once you find that this posturing about self-aggrandisement is creeping into leadership, it is time for you to reassess and exit,” he advised.

Honesty, Integrity, Trust

He also shared with the graduands some core values essential to effective leadership: Honesty, Integrity, and Trust.

“The only thing that will endure to the end is honesty. So honesty is a core value that you must keep with you if you’re going to lead people properly,” he noted, emphasising the importance of being transparent and consistent. On integrity, he said it means “making decisions one can live with when nobody is watching, which is the real test of character”.

He also spoke about the importance of trust, warning that “if you cannot engender trust among your team, forget it. No strategy, plan, or initiative will succeed”.

He added that trust is earned through accountability, starting with oneself.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Merrick Watson, training branch director, echoed the message of responsibility, telling the graduands: “Leadership demands that you confront your assumptions, question your instincts, and sometimes abandon habits that once made you effective. That tension is growth happening in real time.

“I urge you, future inspectors, be deliberate, be consistent, be unshakably grounded in the values you claim to represent. The rank you will be given, you must prove.”

Deputy Commissioner Andrew Lewis, representing Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake, congratulated the cohort on a “historic achievement”, noting that a similar attempt in 2024 had only graduated 90-plus officers.

“But today we are making history,” he said. “As a force, we have been making history in crime-reduction efforts, the deployment of technology, the rollout of digital management systems, building new police facilities, new stations, new police headquarters, and renovating existing stations.”

Seriousness of roles

Lewis also noted that, since Blake assumed office in mid-2024, more than 2,100 officers have been promoted, more than the force had promoted in the previous 10 years combined.

He reminded the future inspectors of the seriousness of their new roles.

“As inspectors, you will make critical decisions across operations, crime, intelligence, and administration. Your officers, divisions, and the communities you serve are counting on you to deliver leadership, vision, and professional standards,” he said.

“You cannot be promoted to inspector and continue to perform sergeant-level work. This is a new assignment, and you must step into it with focus, commitment, and confidence,” Lewis added, noting that the graduates’ work is central to sustaining the JCF’s achievements in crime reduction, technology deployment, and internal promotions.

He also urged the new leaders to “uphold professional standards, strengthen public confidence, and lead with integrity”.

The six-week Inspector Development Programme, which began on February 2, saw 100 sergeants undergoing intensive training in leadership, ethics, communication, and operational management.

The programme, described as a flagship initiative of the JCF, is aimed at preparing officers for supervisory command and strengthening professionalism within the force.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com