Support group to host weekend retreat for police personnel, families
Published:Wednesday | October 25, 2023 | 12:07 AMKeisha Hill/Senior Gleaner Writer
The National Police Wives Association (NPWA) is a non-profit charitable organisation located in the United States. It is dedicated to supporting law-enforcement spouses through various outreach programmes, providing resources to those new to the law-enforcement community, as well as promoting volunteerism and charity within the law- enforcement community in general. It has been in existence since 2010.
According to Rachel Barrett-Dolcine, MPA, founder of the National Police Wives Association Jamaica, the goals of the local organisation – launched in January 2023– include providing support, resources, and friendship to the people supporting law-enforcement officers every day, reaching out to others who face daily struggles of being in a relationship with law enforcement personnel, and establishing good fellowship among members of NPWA, and members of the police wives community.
The organisation has established a Jamaican affiliate to extend the services, support and camaraderie of the National Police Wives Association into the international space.
“Jamaica was selected as the first country to start a NPWA affiliate. I am Jamaica-born and I have been married to a Baltimore City police sergeant for 20 years. I have a passion for Jamaica, and I seek opportunities to lend my skills, talents, network and knowledge to make Jamaica a better place to live, work and grow. With the increasing global need of mental health support for police and their families, I wanted to start an initiative that would have lasting impact for Jamaica Constabulary Force officers and their families,” Barrett-Dolcine said.
The National Police Wives Association Jamaica (NPWAJ) has the complete support of NPWA and will share similar goals and programmes with NPWA, with the caveat that NPWAJ’s mission and goals be aligned with the needs of JCF officers, their spouses and/or significant others, and their families.
Kerry-Ann Astree, chief executive officer of Married to the Badge Nonprofit and chaplain of National Police Wives Association Jamaica, is a Christian and supports the National Police Wives Association of Jamaica because of its mission.
“As the widow of a police lieutenant, I am fully aware of the need to have support from outside of the police department. The importance and significance of this organisation in Jamaica is profound. Those who support the men and women of JCF will now have a safe place to find support and become equipped with tools necessary to offer support to their officers. My ability to contribute by providing peer support and chaplaincy services to the women of the community is a privilege and honour, to say the least,” Burnett said.
Last year, Burnett lost her husband in a line-of-duty accident. Her loss did not stifle her passion for serving the spouses of law-enforcement officers. Instead, it grew. She has a strong desire for seeing women thrive and succeed in every area of their lives, especially law enforcement wives.
BRIDGE-BUILDING
The NPWA will host a police weekend in Jamaica from November 2-5, 2023, that will provide an opportunity for NPWA to show JCF officers and their families some love and support.
“The weekend will entail a series of activities and events that the NPWA Jamaica leadership team hopes will encourage and refresh officers and their families; provide opportunity for the team to network with community and JCF leadership; promote the purpose of the organisation and its intent to be a sup port to JCF officers and their families; and begin the work of bridge-building to mend any fractured or broken relationships between communities and officers,” Barrett-Dolcine said.
Barrett-Docline said the NPWA Jamaica leadership team is expecting a successful weekend for the attendees and their team. “We expect to have support from JCF leadership, officers and families; as well as community leaders who are vested in having the best police force in the world. Last, we expect to serve, listen to and learn from JCF leadership, officers and families. The theme of the weekend is ‘We Are In This Together!’ No matter where in the world you police, we are in the same ocean. We may be on different boats, but the challenges we face as a police community are the same. In NPWA we say, ‘No family serves alone.’ We mean that,” she said.
Partners for the Police Weekend include Married 2 The Badge Nonprofit, National Police Wives Association- Florida Affiliate, Lasco Chin Foundation and National Police Wives Association. The Lowe’s Mission Ready Marriage Program, Trinity Funeral Services, Thin Blue Line USA, Compass Consulting & Training Solutions, LLC, RJ Designs, Behind the Line Baton Rouge join Manifesting a New Ending, Penny Rose Designs, Dirty Dog Manufacturing, ILG Private Wealth, The Church of Adullam, and the Savanna-la-Mar Church of God as the other partners.