Law Enforcement Torch Run - Doing good on the Sabbath

Observer column published MON 11 June 2018

by Jean Lowrie-Chin

It was a lovely morning last Saturday when scores gathered at the entrance of the Police Officers Club on Hope Road for the Law Enforcement Torch Run.  This event is held worldwide by members of the security forces to raise funds for their countries’ Special Olympians. One of my favourite people in the world, Lorna Bell, organized her Special Olympians to pass the Torch to our Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson.

Hubie and I enjoyed catching up with 
Jamaica Constabulary Force Commissioner Antony Anderson and ACP Steve McGregor 
at the #LawEnforcementTorchRun. 
Photo by Justine Henzell.

We can be proud that Jamaica was the first country outside of the US to start the Torch Run several decades ago.  It was also great to catch up with Assistant Commissioner Steve McGregor who has been lauded by this column for his leadership in community policing, and to learn that Deputy Superintendent Cosford Cole continues to farm watermelons each year, donating his sales to the Torch Run.

If only all our police officers could follow their example. On arriving near the Hope Road/Kingsway intersection, journalist Kemesha Kelly crossed over to us to explain that she had been parked on Kingsway for over half an hour because a police officer said he could not move the barrier for her to cross over to turn on Phoenix Avenue. 

Further, there was a nurse whose car had also been stopped at the barrier, who needed to just literally cross the street to start her workday at Andrews Memorial Hospital.  Gordon Swaby of EduFocal was also stuck in the line and I learned that his request was met with an insult from the said young officer.

At this point, I figured only God could help us, so I made my case.

Me: Sir, God blessed you with the power of discretion, would you please just use it allow these good people to go their way?

Young Officer: I have my orders and I must stick to the rules.

Me: But Sir, Jesus Himself taught us that sometimes you have to bend the rules. Don’t you remember when Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath and answered his critics? And actually, today is the Sabbath.

This stirred something in him because he, who had been talking non-stop, paused thoughtfully and then finally signaled that the barriers be moved. This is the type of attitude that gives the JCF a bad name.

Meanwhile, heartiest congratulations go out to those caring police officers who, year after year, volunteer their time and other resources to raise funds for our Special Olympians.