By Timecka James
Recently, I asked a co-worker this question: “If you go to an office or anywhere for service, would you prefer efficiency or smiles?” She replied “both”. So, I repeated “efficiency or smiles?”
She answered efficiency. Personally, I would choose efficiency over smiles, as long as it is at least polite, in achieving the service I require from an establishment. Service with a smile is great though.
Now, imagine going to a professional organization such as the police station where officers are expected to serve the public with some modicum of respect and civility. Instead you are greeted gruffly and almost rudely. You are left feeling insulted, somewhat violated and with the feeling that you committed a faux pas.
On Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at about 3:18 – 3:20 pm I had a nasty encounter with three officers after going to the St. Ann’s Bay police station. The situation was such that I had to use the facility, which I had done before. A legal matter involving myself and another individual was to be resolved over a five-month period. He was advised by the courts to use the police station as witness to the transactions between us and I complied. On the day in question, the individual contacted me several times during the day where he seemed undecided as whether to come to my work place or to remain at the police station. I explained to him that I would not be able to be there during my lunch hour and agreed to meet after leaving work at 3 pm.
FRUSTRATION
I was very surprised to receive a call, at exactly 2:43, informing me that it was the police calling me. It was a female officer. I became upset and said aloud “I can’t take people frustrating me!” I had clients lined up at my desk and I was really irritated because this was not the first time the individual did this; agreeing to wait and then having the police call me and questioning me as if I am a criminal.
I explained to the police woman that we had an agreement and that was why I sounded like that. She proceeded to ask why I couldn’t have taken my lunch break and come there. She asked when could I get there. It was decided I would get there at 3:15 pm.
Just as I settled at the desk with the documents to complete the transaction, a harassed looking officer demanded, “How may the police help you?” I explained my presence and another male officer said it was ok, go ahead. Before putting pen to paper I explained to the second officer that I had already wrote the document and it was just to date it. He asked why we were at the police station doing this. I explained that an order was made by the judge and the individual was advised by a clerk of court that he could use the facility. He said okay. Before I was through he left the area.
I asked the officer remaining who turned out to be, a sergeant if he could just provide us with his name so I could write it at the back of the receipt. He asked, ‘Fi wah?!’ Before I could explain he bawled out, “Nuh mix mi up inna uno business” and “do wah uno a do and gwaan, wah uno tek police fa?”
I asked the senior officer, a sergeant, why he was behaving so negatively. How dare I! His rage was a palpable thing. “How yuh mean how me a talk, mi talk to anybody anyhow, weh yuh hear bout. A Jamaica dis!’
I told him he didn’t have to be behaving like that as I asked a simple question.
I cannot explain just now, how I felt then but it wasn’t pleasant. And while he continued writing the verbal diatribe continued. I couldn’t hear pass the disbelief. I felt like I was sucker, punched and b…. slapped at the same time.
NO NAME
The other officer, a corporal, came back just then and I repeated my request to him. I didn’t mind being refused but we believed we were tying things neatly and, on previous occasions, we had asked previous officers, whose names we received. So, I didn’t realize I was doing something wrong.
The second officer asked why I wanted his name. Again, I repeated the same thing I said to the rude officer # 1. He quickly but politely refused. Mr. Sergeant barked, ‘No write nutten yaa caapral. Mek him (I’m female) gi him ee receipt and gwaan!!’
Apparently the disrespect was a fever because corporal caught it right away and muttered something rude, hissed and stalked off.
SET FI YUH
I’m trying to assimilate what just occurred at that point when our dear female officer, not to be outdone apparently, entered the fracas. “Good evening ma’am. I’m the officer who called earlier and you said something. A no me u did a talk?” I really felt under attack now but I said, “No, I explained to you earlier what was what.”
Please don’t laugh but Miss Female officer’s reply was, “Oh cause a set me deh ya a set fi u!’ Incredulous, I said “Excuse me!”
“Yea me a set fi yu. All train me a train.”
WHAT IS JAMAICA
Now, with the recent occurrences, incidents, call them what you will, I am left wondering what the female officer meant when she said she was setting/training for me. Was I to be shot or arrested if I had dared to say ‘yes, it was you’? I am not certain. Sergeant Phillips maybe you can answer as you were present and very vocal. And a question to you, Sir, did you mean by being Jamaican it means to be rude, disrespectful, ignorant, disgusting and basically dumb? Is it that the only meaning for ‘Jamaica’? And Mr. Male officer, you are just as disgusting. I can truly say the tiny bit of anything good I had for police I had has died totally.
I applaud all the decent officers who still remember that they are humans as well and know how to treat the general public with consideration and respect. Despite all the bad things happening around you and in your life you still remain human. I applaud you and encourage you to continue in said stead. We are all connected
