TORRINGTON, Westmoreland — Chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, Corporal Arlene McBean has called on the church and the wider community, to join forces with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in the fight against crime and violence in the society.

“My plea on behalf of the rank and file members, and by extension the Jamaica Constabulary Force, is for members of the community, the churches, to join all hands and hearts with us to fight this monster called crime. It is affecting all of us,” Corporal McBean stressed.

“No one should even hug up that “informer fi dead” mentality anymore, or see no evil, hear no evil, but to talk the story and do not keep back any information, because these criminals must be brought to justice.”

Corporal McBean was speaking with the Jamaica Observer West on Saturday (September 29) during a thanksgiving service for Constable Rohan Bucknor who was murdered in August by gunmen at a barbershop in Westmoreland.

During the service, held at the Torrington Wesleyan Holiness Church in the parish, host pastor and Assistant District Superintendent, Rev Dr Barbara Dobson, made a similar charge to the many mourners in attendance.

Pointing out that even though the government is currently doing its best in the fight against crime, she said, at times, it would appear that it (government) is running out of options.

The clergywoman noted, however, that the church is a viable option.

“The government is trying its best, but sometimes we get the feeling that they are running out of options. But, there is still one more option, the church of Jesus Christ who has been empowered by God,” said Rev Dr Dobson.

She argued that members of the various churches should join forces regardless of their denominations, in the fight against crime.

“If every church could join together, take off our denomination labels. Stop talking about what makes us who we are; what makes us Holiness, what makes us New Testament (Church of God), and what makes us (Seventh-day) Adventist, and join forces together and let the army of God march in our communities, it would make a difference. We can do it,” she emphasised.

Rev Dr Dobson also used the occasion to encourage the police, who, she said, are doing their best, but cannot tame the crime monster alone.

“With all the best strategies you have, you can’t do it alone. And, I will encourage all our churches, we can make it easy [for the police],” she argued.

The minister of religion further argued that while it is easy for church members to sit and pray, they must also act by partnering with the security forces in stemming the problem.

During the service, the late JCF constable was remembered as a devoted Christian, who extended a caring hand to scores of people, including the sick.

He also took an interest in the academic and social well-being of the youth, the mourners were also told.

Constable Bucknor, who served the JCF for 20 years, was stationed at the Little London Police Station in Westmoreland, up to the time of his untimely death.

The police reported that at about 10:00 pm on August 19, the 41- year-old Bucknor, who resides in Hartford district, also in the parish, was at a barbershop in the neighbouring community of Petersfield, when he was pounced upon and shot multiple times by masked gunmen.

No arrest has so far been made in connection with the killing.

Constable Bucknor is survived by three children, including a one-year-old, and his wife Jonnella.