Cop with a cause - Corporal Brown-Witter transforming lives through foundation

When Corporal Roxanne Brown-Witter dons her police uniform each morning, her mission goes far beyond enforcing the law. For her, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is a platform to change lives, heal communities, and give children the chance to dream bigger than their circumstances.

The 39-year-old cop is the powerhouse behind the Once a Man, Twice a Child Foundation, a charity she launched in 2014 to support vulnerable children. The initiative was born out of Brown-Witter's own life story. Having raised nine children--two biological and seven adopted--she knows firsthand the power of love, structure, and opportunity in shaping young lives.

Since enlisting in 2018, Brown-Witter has steadily climbed the ranks and now serves as assistant divisional training officer at the Portmore Police Station, famously called 100 Man. She works closely with recruits fresh from the National Police College of Jamaica, shaping not just their skills but their attitudes towards service.

"I have a passion for children and adults alike, and with my skill set I am happy to help in shaping the minds of young policemen and women. As the force transforms, so must the men and women of the organisation," she said.

Brown-Witter said that she joined the JCF to become an agent of change.

"I joined the JCF to make a change," she said.

"I remember watching television one night and heard a policeman speak. I never liked how he sounded, and so as a trained English language educator, I knew I had to make the change," she said.

Her dedication was on full display recently when the Longville Park Police Station buzzed with excitement during her foundation's back-to-school treat. Children from police youth clubs in Longville Park, May Pen, and Hayes were not only gifted with school supplies but also received free medicals from Dr Suneil Morgan and vital health checks from nurse Roshay Burrell-Williams. For Brown-Witter, it wasn't just about handing out bags and books--it was about showing children and their parents that the police can be partners in their well-being.

This holistic model of engagement -- combining education, health, and mentorship -- has already begun to reshape how communities see the JCF. In places where mistrust often lingers, Brown-Witter's compassion sends a clear message: the police are not just enforcers of the law, but guardians of hope.