By Azara Lavia
Although difficult to define, morale is often quite apparent when it falters. High morale is a positive confident feeling, an energy, an enthusiasm, a spirit, or a committed and united will to succeed.
In July, a letter addressed to Public Safety Minister Sir Steadroy Benjamin from the Police Welfare Association (PWA) compared the tenure of the current Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney to that of former commissioners.
The PWA expressed the opinion that former Commissioner Wendel Alexander, who was dismissed from the force in 2019, left the organisation on a more stable footing and had a clear view of what it could achieve, in spite of whatever shortcomings he was accused of.
During an Observer AM interview yesterday, Alexander said morale can make or break a law enforcement agency, and that effective leadership and organisational morale are inextricably linked.
When asked by host Dr Jacqui Quinn about the current level of morale in the force, Alexander stated that he is in agreement with the PWA that enthusiasm is at an all-time low.
This is in sharp contrast to recent claims by Commissioner Rodney that morale is high.
“From my vantage point as a former police officer, and as an attorney-at-large, I have to interact with quite a number of officers. The morale is extremely low,” Alexander claimed.
“So, I take difference with the Commissioner of Police stating that the morale is high, but I do not expect the Commissioner of Police to go publicly and say that the morale is low.
“What I expected him to say is that, ‘listen, we have challenges’, but does one blame the Commissioner of Police? There are quite a number of competent officers in senior positions, some of whom hold Master’s degrees.”
The former top cop posited that strategically positioning officers who are both qualified and experienced should be paramount in providing effective service delivery and ensuring the well-being of the law enforcement agency.
“The Deputy Commissioner is a university graduate with quite a number of years of experience, well over 35 years of experience. Miss Quashie has a Master’s degree with distinction and there are a number of university graduates up at the top with experience.
“The question is whether or not these persons who have this experience within the police force are being utilised and being put in departments that can carry out the strategic mandate of the police, because all well and good if you have these four competent forces up there but it’s not being positioned in a way and being chartered with the responsibility to carry out the mandate in solving crime and maintaining peace and order in the country,” Alexander argued.
Sharing his views on the recent upsurge in criminal activity across the twin island nation, the attorney said he is displeased with the level of police presence.
He is encouraging officers to step up visibility through regular patrols, and increase ‘stop and search’ and ‘spot check’ exercises across the country.
