UTech student wants robot to help JCF

Could the addition of a robot lighten the workload of members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF)?

Shanice Facey, a student of the University of Technology (UTech), strongly believes so. Facey and her colleagues, along with their robotic 'friend' were present at Thursday's first day of the JCF Transformations 2023: People, Quality and Technology Expo at the National Arena in Kingston.

"With the JCF, sometimes there is one person taking report for the day and sometimes the reports are a lot. We want this robot to work alongside the JCF, more so to strengthen the bond between the police and the public and technology. It could log in conversations and do facial rec (facial recognition), so if someone comes in and they have a warrant outstanding or so on, then the robot can connect to the JCF database and recognise this," Facey said.

Facey and some of her schoolmates programme the robot, and she said it was instrumental in the fight against COVID-19.

"Everyone was scared and didn't want to touch people. We came up with the idea to use this robot to be like a third party between patients and medical personnel. Once you enter the UTech medical centre, we would make sure your hands are sanitsed. And once you enter your ID number, the robot would take your temperature just to ensure that you weren't a COVID risk," Facey said.

"It also took blood pressure [readings], oxygen level and stuff like that. All that information is gathered into a paragraph or so, and then the nurse basically collects that information and then the patient will get a number from the machine and they sit and wait for their number to be called, and then the robot refreshes for the next patient," she added.

Thursday marked the first-ever JCF transformation expo. Students and adults met with hundreds of JCF personnel who are the driving force behind the transformation. The public also got an opportunity to learn about the cutting edge technologies that have been implemented to make communities safer.

The Department of Weapons and Tactical Training (DWTT) booth was one of the many highlights. Guests learned about not only the different types of firearms and ammunition, but also the safe handling of lethal and less lethal service weapons. Among the standouts was the 28-pound, 50-calibre Barrett. According to Sergeant Charles Stewart from the DWTT, the special application sniper rifle is "not something that you use and shoot people".

"However, depending on the situation, if a person has explosives and is trying to do bodily harm, harm and so on, you can take them out through a building. It can also be used to detonate explosives far away," he said.

Service dog Avicci also searched 10 duffel bags to locate a firearm and a stash of cocaine, and wowed the audience when he located the correct bag on both occasions.

Logistics and Operations Coordinator Senior Superintendent of Police Gary Francis, said the expo covers more than 40 formations of the JCF.

"We have on display multiple sections with deep information sharing with our citizens, to ensure that they are aware of the capability of the police force. We have transformed in a number of ways, but sometimes the citizens are not aware of it. We are here to empower and educate our citizens so that we can have a greater and better relationship to better serve. We are very pleased as today (Thursday) we have seen hundreds of children and adults interacting, and every person that I have communicated with is impressed with what they are seeing," Francis said.