Anthony Henry / Contributor

Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake is urging members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to safeguard integrity and public trust as the organisation records what he describes as a historic reduction in murders.

In his latest column in the Force Orders, Dr Blake said January ended with 33 murders, the lowest number recorded in a single month since the JCF began compiling monthly data in 2001, and the lowest in more than 30 years.

“These numbers matter because they confirm that our strategies, efforts, and resolve are producing results,” the Commissioner stated, while warning that progress also increases scrutiny and exposes institutional weaknesses.

Dr Blake stressed that continued crime reduction depends not only on operational success, but on maintaining public confidence. He said the Force must continue to enjoy the trust of Jamaicans, as well as local and international partners, describing reputation and integrity as assets that must be guarded “like a fortress.”

He acknowledged that the organisation has recently been affected by what he called “unfortunate events” that threaten to erode stakeholder confidence, noting that trust is “difficult to earn and easy to lose.”

“These ‘own goal’ events have occurred and cannot be undone … now, it is about how we respond,” he wrote, urging members not to allow setbacks to define the institution.

The Commissioner said resilience must apply not only to confronting violent criminals, but also to maintaining credibility and ethical standards within the Force. He indicated that reform may involve significant changes to structures, systems, and processes to address weaknesses and remove vulnerabilities.

“We sometimes have to make sweeping changes to our structures, processes and systems,” Dr Blake stated, adding that renewal is a shared responsibility across the organisation.

He also recognised that reform efforts can affect members who are not culpable, but maintained that accountability and correction are necessary to strengthen the institution.

“What we do from this point forward will matter more than anything we say,” the Commissioner wrote. “Credibility is restored quietly, through consistent conduct, difficult decisions, and the willingness to correct ourselves when necessary.”

Dr Blake said sustaining January’s results will require continued discipline, focus, and mutual support among members of the Force, expressing confidence in the professionalism and resolve within the organisation.

He concluded that if those standards are maintained, crime reduction gains will continue and public trust can be protected and rebuilt.