‘War for young minds’ - Senior cop pushes for more positive role models

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Damion Manderson is throwing his full support behind an upcoming Father's Day event in Waterhouse, while calling for more impactful and sustained social interventions to help keep crime on the decline in St Andrew South.

According to the divisional commander, the majority of major crimes in the area are being committed by young men who grew up without a positive male role model. He believes that strengthening the presence and influence of strong father figures is key to steering youth away from violence.

"There's a war for the minds of young people," Manderson said.

"It is a war to direct and to change the mindset of individuals who have grown up in communities that have developed a gun and gang culture, a community that has seen individuals grow up around violence and have lost lives. So it is always an intent to implement and support these programmes that provoke the right thought process, because the absence of strong, committed fathers exposes them to the gang and gun culture."

The senior cop, who recently led the successful Greenwich Town Corner League -- a three-month-long football tournament aimed at building community spirit -- says initiatives like these help bridge social gaps and reduce tension in volatile areas.

"You have persons who, for one reason or the other, didn't venture to certain streets for years. But what we found is that the initiative brought a sense of togetherness; it is the kind of initiative you need to implement in a time when criminality is being met with decisive and strong policing action," Manderson noted.

Now, he is endorsing the 'Celebrating Dads' Father's Day event, slated for Sunday, June 15 at Bagga Park. The event, organised by the newly formed Strong Fathers Foundation, will feature a cookout, seven-a-side football matches, and an after-party.

The goal? To raise funds to support the education of four children who recently lost their fathers to gun violence.

Ackene Fisher, co-founder and general manager of the Strong Fathers Foundation, says the initiative aims to fill the emotional and social gap left by absent fathers, especially in communities plagued by violence.

"Two of my childhood best friends have died due to violence, and they have left behind children who are angry and in rage. Our aim is to create that positive space for them to process their anger, and fill the void of not having their fathers around, in a positive manner," Fisher shared.

Manderson says while his role as a law enforcer requires him to crack down on violence, he is often struck by the troubling social realities behind many offenders.

"The presence of fathers is important and needed to steer young men away from a lifestyle of crime and violence. So an initiative like this one is very important to help save lives, and for the collective growth of the community. This is very critical," he emphasised.