DCP Richard Stewart: National honour evokes sense of pride

DCP Stewart, who grew up among locals in the Nightingale Grove community of St Catherine South West, is among 144 Jamaicans to be honoured at the annual National Honours and Awards ceremony on Heroes Day on October 18.

The 49-year-old career police officer is to be bestowed with the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) for 30 years of service to nation building through law enforcement.

“There is a sense of pride,” Stewart said in an Old Harbour News exclusive. “There is a sense of satisfaction to believe that the country has recognised the effort that I have placed to national development through the JCF.”

Stewart, who now oversees the administration and support services portfolio of the constabulary, joined the JCF in 1991 at age 19 following in the footsteps of his father Fitzbert Stewart who retired at the rank of inspector in 1999.

Three decades later the St Catherine High School alumnus is now one step away from the possibility of becoming the nation’s police chief one day. Such a prospect isn’t lost on the high-ranking cop, he said, but is an opportunity to be ready for should such a task is ever to be foisted upon his broad shoulders.

“Right now it’s about being prepared psychologically, being armed with the knowledge and having a better understanding and appreciation for government and how government work,” he said. “Understanding how to communicate with people, building and improving on one’s leadership.”

In his early days growing up in the Gutters area, Stewart’s original ambition was to become a judge.  But such a desire was shelved upon teaming up with thousands of Jamaicans who took the oath to serve and protect the Jamaican people. He was determined nonetheless to contribute to nationhood in a meaningful manner by first focusing on the development of self.

While serving his country in some of the most hostile police divisions in the corporate area, in addition to stints also done in Manchester and St Ann, DCP Stewart acquired further knowledge to bolster his policing intelligence.

By the time he was elevated to deputy commission of police last year, Stewart is the holder of a Master of Science  in accounting, a Bachelor's Degree in accounting and management; a Bachelor of Laws Degree, all earned at the University of the West Indies as well as a Certificate of Legal Education, obtained at the Norman Manley Law School.

When he decided to dabble into law, revealed the man who was called to the bar in 2011, he was wavering with thoughts of migrating. But he had a change of heart when a friend said to him “you would be a foolish man not to go” and complete law school after he had already gained acceptance from the institution. 

“I thought that in studying law it would add value to the job especially if I decided as I have to remain in the constabulary and within the jurisdiction,” he added.

Law he believes has developed the ‘third eye’ in him.

“One of the things about higher learner, sometimes it’s not so much the content, although I’m not saying that it’s so, but it is the process itself that one is engaging with. So it allows you to be analytic and it allows you to fully develop the skills to look at things and to recognise that they are not as they may appear,” he told Old Harbour News.  

“Another thing about knowledge is that you become courageous and embolden, skills needed to become a good police officer… and to achieve the goals set out by the country to achieve.”

Under his current portfolio, DCP Stewart is charged with the responsibility to see to the continuous improvement of the force’s training, human resource management and medical services.

The force has given him everything, he said: “And I gave it everything that I have.”

As much as the force has had an immense impact on his life, DCP Stewart credits the massive influence his parents and the community had on him. “There are many values that they taught and these values help to guide one ethically. These values also show up in your work ethic, in your attitude,” said the father of two boys. He joins the late former police officer SSP Kenneth Small, counselling psychologist Jerine Singh, retired Jamaica Defence Force veteran Donald Spence; correctional officers: Superintendent Rudolph Edwards (Ret'd) and Assistant Superintendent Theophilus Campbell (Dec'd),  as unsung heroes from the community to be recognised by the country at its most iconic awards ceremony.

He added that the community of Nightingale Grove created a great environment for a bright future of meaningful possibilities. Vast majority of his childhood friends have exceled in their respective endeavours. Some were merely associates during high school, many including Prime Minister Andrew Holness, among others.

“The students from that era… you really get a sense of joy and pride to know that you can associate with these people that I can consider to be great people,” he said. 

Throughout this quiet rise, DCP Stewart managed to stay out of the public limelight for the most part, never the tough talking cop that struck fear into the hearts of criminals who would quiver just hearing his name. Far from it. But is impact is clearly being felt.

“Not too long from now we will soon to recognise that it is not the intimidating features that get the job, but a proper appreciation of the variables at play and the ability to manipulate the variables to get the outcome that you want,” he said.

DCP Stewart is among three top-ranked officers who will be vested this year by the state with the Order of Distinction (Rank of Officer) – the others being DCP Fitz Bailey and DCP Dr Kevin Blake.

“Gratefulness does act as a motivation,” he said. “I am motivated by this achievement and the motivation will translate into more and better work.”