TRAINING AT THE Regional Police Training Centre (RPTC) will become more demanding because of the need for a more alert officer.

In giving his report, commandant of the centre, Lionel Thompson, said some potential recruits had dropped out of their programmes.

"[Last year], 55 students out of an original cohort of 58 graduated on Recruit Course 128. 24 students out of the original 26 graduated on the special constables course and [this year] 32 students out of 35 who journeyed to the centre on October 29 are graduating today [Wednesday]," he said, while speaking at the 129th Passing Out Parade at the RPTC, Seawell, Christ Church, on Wednesday.

Thompson said the reasons for the recruits not finishing the course were mainly because of medical problems or resignations by those whofound it too dangerous and demanding.

"It is our view that our future legitimacy is dependent on the employment of policies that will elevate us to the next professional level. Clearly, this will require us to develop strategic alliances with other educational/training institutions.

"However . . . there must be formal recognition and acceptance of our courses," he said.

The commandant said they would soon be hiring a curriculum development officer to help with this, also mentioning the launch of their website.

And he also urged the graduates, to always be ethical.

" . . . Avoid misconduct and corruption at all cost and by any legal and moral means. I also challenge you to think highly of yourself because the public takes you at your measurements.

"Despite [this] I remain extremely confident you will succeed. You see, whereas adversity has caused many to break; it has caused many of our 17 000 graduates to break records," he said.

This year's outstanding recruit was Barbadian Jamal Grant, who, in addition to the Baton of Honour and the Commandant's Trophy, took the Director of Public Prosecutions Trophy; the US Embassy/RPTC Challenge Trophy; the Sir Frederick Smith Trophy; the Captain WHR Armstrong Challenge Trophy and the Ex-Barbados Police Association Trophy. (CA)