ST JAMES, Jamaica — National Security Minister, Robert Montague has announced a Medal of Appreciation for members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force who excel across three key areas: serving, protecting and reassuring.

This, paired with the refreshing of police week to include a day of mourning, is aimed at recognising and rewarding the work of the police.He made the disclosure yesterday at the 74th Annual Jamaica Police Federation Conference being held at Iberostar Hotel Resort from May 10 – 11, 2017.The minister expressed his appreciation for the work of the JCF saying: “Your task is not an easy one, it calls for tremendous effort and great sacrifices. Every day and every night, seven days a week, twelve months a year, you put your lives on the line to serve, protect and reassure the citizens of this country”.The three categories for the medal of appreciation fall under “Community service, which underlines to serve; operations, which underlines to protect; and non-geographic, which underlines to reassure,” informed Montague.He told the gathering, “the medals will be in gold silver and bronze. One for each category. And the nominees must be selected by the federation through the divisions and vetted by a panel of retired police commissioners.”Montague said the medals will be distributed at an official function where the policemen and women will be required to wear their suit.The minister stated that he also intends to endorse and promote police week.”Police week too quiet bout the place. And, within the police week chairman (Sergeant Raymond Wilson), I intend to declare a day of mourning for our fallen police officers,” stated Montague. Such a move could be seen as a direct response to calls earlier made during the conference by the Jamaica Police Federation Chairman, Sergeant Raymond Wilson for the government to designate a day of mourning for policemen and women who have fallen in the line of duty.”It is the least you can do for police officers. A day of mourning, minister. But, we see all Jamaicans acknowledging and paying respect to our fallen colleagues,” Wilson had said.Anthony Lewis