TREASURE BEACH, St Elizabeth — A pre‑dawn conditioning session turned fatal at the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Tranquility Bay Campus on Tuesday when 35‑year‑old police trainee Desmond Thompson collapsed while returning to his barracks and later died in hospital. Home – Jamaica Observer
According to an initial JCF release, Thompson — a former district constable undergoing basic recruit training — had just completed a routine physical drill around 7:35 a.m. when he suddenly fell unconscious on the parade route. On‑site medics performed CPR before an emergency transfer to Black River Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Jamaica Gleaner
The Police High Command has expressed condolences to Thompson’s family, training colleagues and instructors, noting that an internal probe and a post‑mortem examination will determine the precise cause of death. Investigators from the National Police College’s safety unit have also been tasked with reviewing current fitness‑training protocols. Jamaica Gleaner
Tuesday’s incident is the second fatality at the south‑coast facility in recent years. In July 2023, trainee constable Rayandre Pike drowned during an off‑duty swim at the same campus, prompting a previous review of water‑safety procedures. Home – Jamaica Observer
The Tranquility Bay site — reopened as a police training base in 2020 — forms part of the JCF’s push to expand recruit intake amid rising attrition. Senior officers say counsellors have been deployed to support Thompson’s batchmates as they resume modified training later this week.
Further updates will follow as the investigation progresses.
