CONGREGANTS at 86E Waltham Park Road in Kingston on Sunday saw a side of the police that has seldom been unveiled when close to 100 men and women of the force laid aside their firearms and ceased patrolling Jamaica’s tough streets to sing, worship and even preach.

In an arresting four-hour service themed “The Anchor Holds” and hosted by head of the Jamaica Evangelistic Association, Bishop V T Williams, Cops for Christ celebrated the 25th anniversary of a ministry they say “offered a certain amount of spiritual solace to members of the Force”.

The bold high-spirited moderator, Sergeant Dalton Scott, left no doubt that there were policemen and women who were sold out to God and who had no qualms about showing this.

“Today the police come to tell you what they can do; a long time police a get battering but today the police come to worship. Police a human being, police want to get saved, police want Jesus, a long time mi in di police force. I love the Lord,” he declared to cheering congregants.

According to Scott, “When the police and the preacher come together, great things happen”.

And so it was.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Rose, who was among several members of the police high command at the service, said Cops for Christ played a valuable role in placing the gospel in a social context.

Rose said while the “mettle of the force has been severely tested over the last few weeks” which has “questioned the credibility and sincerity of members”, the JCF was comforted that for 140 years it has been giving service to the people of Jamaica.

“For 140 years, He (God) has held our anchor and will continue to hold as we give Jamaican people the type of security they need,” ACP Rose said.

In his remarks, the national security minister, Derrick Smith, said he considered himself “lucky” to be afforded that level of fellowship.

“Nothing is wrong with policemen and women having strong religious beliefs. I think this is very good. It brings a more humane way to dealing with people and wrongdoers,” Smith told the large congregation.

Jamaica, said the security minister, has been “calling loudly for a solution to the crippling problem of crime and is calling for a more humane approach”.

Said Smith: “This government supports that view and we are insisting that individuals in the pursuit of their duties on a day-to-day basis be respectful of the rights of the average Jamaican.”

While conceding that the “average police officer on a daily basis is faced with more stress and conflict than the ordinary citizen handles in months or even a year”, Smith said that having God at the centre would allow them to ‘temper’ their responses to civilians.

He said, too, that Cops for Christ could assist the Jamaica Constabulary Force in winning back the respect of communities.

“You have the moral authority of the Bible and the law. We cannot succeed in the fight against crime without the full support of our citizens,” said the security minister.

The cops, several of whom testified to having lost colleagues and friends in the course of duty, on Sunday said they still believed in the goodness of God.