“To do policing is really a passion of mine. It was a choice I made to serve people and I have no regrets,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jevene Bent who hails from Rose Hall in St. Elizabeth.
This well-focused achiever has had many successes in life, but continues to work so hard that she has not been able to take time out to reflect on her achievements. As a child, she saw a woman-police in Mandeville and was so attracted to the uniform that she decided to be a police in order to look like that officer.
Jevene Bent
On leaving school, Jevene embarked on teaching for some years. She even attended Church Teachers’ College in Manchester and taught at several schools in Clarendon and St. Catherine; but this was only until she was ready to make the transition to pursue her lifelong dream. She soon left teaching and joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) on June 6, 1976. Since then, she has not stopped climbing.
Serving in various capacities, departments and parishes, she has been involved in community relations, training, administration and support service and commanding.An ardent worker, she is not intimidated by competition from her male counterparts.
She has had nine promotions during her career, and was on May 1, 2003, appointed the first female Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in the Caribbean. DCP Bent states that when the Commissioner (Francis Forbes) informed her of her promotion, she was elated and excited, but was at the same time, humbled by the experience.
DCP Bent has studied extensively and holds a first degree in Management Studies (UWI). She later became a British Chevening Fellow and did a Masters in Criminology at Leicester University in England, and finished a Masters degree in Human Resource Development at UWI.
Jevene does not hesitate to acknowledge the support she got from relatives, former schoolmates, co-workers and colleagues, her church family, mentors and the Commissioner, himself. She speaks highly of the support she received from mentors, retired Supt. Iris Tulloch and the first JCF Assistant Commissioner, Winnifred Hall-Wray who telephoned to congratulate her. Her faith in God is un-wavering, and she believes that with the right attitude and the right focus, one can climb any mountain.
The DCP has big plans for the JCF’s Administration and Support Services Portfolio, the department to which she was officially appointed. She plans to use technology to improve administration in terms of speed, access to information in disciplinary and other cases involving police officers; as well as shortening the process-time of paper work.
As another priority, she plans to improve the state of police stations and other facilities; and to watch carefully, how police resources are utilised. She wants them to be effectively used while conserving at the same time.
