"Each crime they commit, they are not really responsible. Most times it is other voices that they hear talking to them that compels them to do things that are wrong. Arresting them does not solve the problem. That is merely a band-aid remedy. - File WESTERN BUREAU:
SOMETHING UNUSUAL is happening in the Black River Police Division in St. Elizabeth. There is an officer there who is taking care of the mentally challenged people on the streets, as well as inmates at the station.
Inspector Anthony Currie, although being busy with regular police duties, devotes his time and skills to conduct social activities with these people. This is evident, as sometimes while driving casually in and around the town, he refers to them on a first-name basis and holds one-to-one discussions with them.
"You have to make them feel important and as part of society, by encouraging them to take their medication and visit the clinics. Failing to do this, as simple as it may seem, could result in them committing a crime and end up in my custody. This is another way of reducing crime," Inspector Currie stated.
To this end, Inspector Currie and a team of medical professionals have formed an outreach programme to assist the mentally disturbed people in the parish. The team comprise Dr. Dorreth Garvey, the chief psychiatrist for the southern region and Mr. Orville Picart, the Senior Mental Health Officer for St. Elizabeth and nurse Karen Elliott. On request from relatives, they visit homes and administer injection and medication to these people.
But this might not be an easy task if they cannot win the confidence of these people to make them believe they are their friends. Otherwise, they could become violent and could retaliate.
Inspector Curie also had high praises for the clerical staff at the Black River Health Centre, which is headed by Ms. Sheryl Anderson, as well as the hospital pharmacy, which is headed by Miss Sharon Dasman, who have been giving tremendous support to both the programme and the mentally ill.
I have been on a lot of mental health seminars in the parish and in other parishes, where I am properly sensitised in this area. I operate on the belief that each insane person who is walking on the streets could be me, had it not been for the grace of God.
He opined: "Each crime they commit, they are not really responsible. Most times it is other voices that they hear talking to them that compel them to do things that are wrong. Arresting them does not solve the problem. That is merely a band-aid remedy. In some cases, whenever they commit a crime, it is mainly because they have stopped taking their medication, failing to visit the mental health clinics or they need love and affection, so they seek attention."
Inspector Currie also believes that these persons feel that society has been cruel to them. Therefore they are retaliating in like manner. He noted, however, that on many occasions whenever we become scared of these people, they are also scared of us.
"That is one of the main reasons why they are sometimes armed with weapons. It is to protect themselves and not actually to harm anyone. It is a situation where we as human beings are afraid of the crocodiles and they are afraid of us in return," he said.
On the other side of the coin, Inspector Currie makes it a part of his duty to have inmates at the Black River Police Station, who are mentally challenged, to have their hair cut at his expense.
He said he was using this medium to advise the public that mental health clinics are held in Black River, Santa Cruz, Balaclava and Junction at different times of the month.
He recalls his most memorable experience in the force was in 1981 when he single-handedly seized a twin-engine plane at the Raheen air strip in Siloah, St. Elizabeth. He arrested the pilot and co-pilot and seized over 400 pounds of marijuana. He refused a $60,000 bribe, which they men offered. The pilots were subsequently fined $23,400 and were ordered deported.
He received a thrashing from others and earned the nick name as 'the Idiot Police'. Inspector Currie has received more than 70 commendations since serving in the force, most of which for destroying ganja fields.
- N. T.
