Regional and local oversight bodies, as well as law-enforcement officials, are expected to converge in Kingston on March 26, to attend the inaugural Hon. Oliver F. Clarke Memorial Lecture on ‘Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement’.
The event will be held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel and will be live streamed on the Police Civilian Oversight Authority (PCOA) and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) YouTube pages as well as the RJRGleaner social media platforms.
Organised by the PCOA, the event aims to foster dialogue and collaboration under the theme ‘Partnerships for Progress: Improving Policing Through Effective Oversight for a Safer Jamaica’.
The lecture will feature two distinguished speakers, Chief of Police for Seattle, Washington, USA, Dr. Shon Barnes; and Assistant Professor in the Criminal Justice Department at Aurora University, Illinois, USA, Marcia K. Thompson, Esq.
The speakers will share valuable insights on building effective partnerships between law enforcement and civilian oversight bodies. Their discussions will provide recommendations on strengthening oversight mechanisms to enhance public trust and national security.
Chief Executive Officer, PCOA, Otarah Byfield-Nugent, has emphasised the importance of the lecture.
“We have two dynamic speakers, who will share their respective experiences relating to partnerships between law enforcement and civilian oversight, as well as recommendations on how civilian oversight of law enforcement can work for the betterment of citizens and national security in general,” Mrs. Byfield-Nugent told JIS News in an interview.
The event honours the legacy of the late Hon. Oliver F. Clarke, former Chairman of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group and a founding member of the PCOA. Mr. Clarke was appointed to the PCOA with six others in 2006 by the Governor-General, following the passage of the PCOA Act of 2005.
Throughout his tenure, he was instrumental in advancing civilian oversight of law enforcement in Jamaica.
Among his many contributions, he played a key role in organising a groundbreaking seminar on civilian oversight in November 2010, themed ‘Broadening the Partnership of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement – International and Local Perspectives’.
The seminar brought together esteemed experts, including Commissioner of the Independent Police Complaints Commission in the United Kingdom (UK), Mike Franklin; President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Keypoint Government Solutions in the USA, Jeffrey Schlander; and Toronto Police Chief, William Blair, all of whom shared global perspectives on trends in civilian oversight and policing.
In addition, Mr. Clarke facilitated international exposure for PCOA members, enabling engagement with global law-enforcement leaders, such as Sir Paul Stephenson, then Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police, and a delegation from West Midlands, UK, including Bishop Derek Webley, Chair of the West Midlands Police Authority.
The inaugural Hon. Oliver F. Clarke Memorial Lecture represents a continuation of his vision and commitment to strengthening accountability and fostering trust between the police and the communities they serve.