Graduates march and twirl their weapons to the tune of the popular song Eye of the Tiger during their passing-out parade at the Twickenham Park Police Academy in St Catherine on Friday.
This latest batch of graduates has been charged by Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who gave the keynote address at the event, to play their part in rebuilding the organisation's image.
Golding welcomed the graduates, saying their addition to the force could not have come at a better time.
"You were specially chosen, and those who made the selection saw in you something that they did not see in the others," said Golding, who applauded the graduates for ignoring the negative criticisms they may have encountered from members of the public when they made the decision to join the force.
"You have joined at an opportune time, a time when the police have been doing tremendous things. You are joining the force when the people of Jamaica have begun working with the police," Golding continued. "You must be a part of what seeks to improve the nature of the Jamaica Constabulary Force. You must draw on your training as it is you that the ordinary people of Jamaica will see."
Golding reminded the graduates that their training does did not end with the 18-week course they underwent. He said they must rely on the expertise of their senior officers to make the best opportunity of their experience.
The prime minister was among several politicians, including minister of national security Dwight Nelson, who attended the passing-out parade of the recruits, who were from both the Twickenham Park and Tranquility Bay police training campuses.
Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington was also among hundreds of persons who endured the scorching sun to witness the parade, which featured the graduates marching and twirling their firearms in time to the beat of popular songs like Eye of the Tiger.
Screams of excitement erupted from the crowd at intervals as the graduates displayed their dexterity while marching in formation.
One of the graduates, Constable Neco Walters, said he was overjoyed at his admission into the police force.
"I am happy right now. It was a rough training period but I am now ready to go out there and play my part with the skills I have acquired over the period," he said.
"Similar sentiments were offered by Llmar Groves, another graduate, who said he is undeterred by the stigma attached to members of the force.
"Whatever job you go out there to do, there will always be stigma attached to it. So I just have to go out there and do what I have to do. I just have to do my part in making the force better," he said.
The recruits who graduated on Friday represent the largest batch of new JCF officers to do so since 2004, and contribute to meeting the shortfall of 5,000 cops who Minister Nelson has said are needed to maximise the efficiency of the force. One hundred and twenty-one new police constables graduated in February.
There are currently just under 9,000 policemen in the JCF, according to Deputy Commissioner Glenmore Hinds.
However, he could not say how many of the 5,000 positions have been filled.
"That would be difficult to say because you would have to take into consideration attrition," Hinds told the Observer.
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