ANNOTTO BAY, St Mary — Across this quiet coastal Jamaican community, one uniformed officer is far more than a law enforcement official to local residents. For more than seven years, Constable Marlon Garriques has embedded himself into the fabric of daily life in Annotto Bay, earning a reputation as a trusted mediator, mentor, and friend to people across all generations. His commitment to bridging gaps between police and residents has recently earned him a well-deserved promotion within Zone Two of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Community Safety and Security Branch (CSSB).
Raised in St Catherine, Garriques grew up following in the footsteps of his father, who also served as a police officer. That upbringing shaped his core philosophy of policing: that officers do not just police a community—they become part of it. Armed with a degree from the Jamaica Theological Seminary, Garriques brought a unique, empathetic perspective to his role when he joined the JCF 14 years ago, and he still carries the same enthusiasm for his work today with no regrets about his career choice.
His career path began with a one-year posting to the traffic department in Port Maria, followed by a four-year tenure at Prospect Police Station. In 2016, he was transferred to Annotto Bay Police Station, where his signature community-centered approach began to flourish. Unlike traditional policing models that rely primarily on response to crime, Garriques built his practice on proactive connection: he walks neighborhood streets regularly, learns every resident’s name, and intervenes to defuse minor disputes before they can escalate into violence.
Local residents say this hands-on approach has transformed how they experience safety in Annotto Bay. “If there’s a disagreement between neighbors, he’s the first person we call,” explained local shopkeeper Beryl, who has known Garriques for years. “If the local school is hosting a sports day or a community event, he’s there volunteering. Just knowing we have an officer we can reach out to any time makes us feel far safer than any patrol car ever could.”
For the young people of Annotto Bay, many of whom grew up surrounded by gang activity and limited economic opportunity, Garriques has served as a stabilizing “big brother” in uniform. Through regular check-ins and targeted mentorship, he has guided dozens of at-risk youth away from criminal pathways and into vocational skills training that helps them build stable careers. A 22-year-old local resident, who requested anonymity to speak freely, called Garriques the reason he is now employed and on the right track. “He didn’t just talk at us about avoiding trouble,” the young man explained. “He helped us get into training, checked in on us regularly, and showed us there was another way forward.”
Garriques’ work is part of a broader shift in Jamaican policing led by the CSSB, which prioritizes community engagement to reduce violence in historically high-crime areas. Local business leaders have praised the branch’s approach, crediting the model with turning once violence-plagued neighborhoods into safer, more connected spaces for work and life.
Reflecting on his recent promotion, Garriques called his posting to Annotto Bay nothing short of divine intervention. “These communities don’t just need enforcement—they need presence,” he said. “We’ve made real progress, but our work isn’t done. We’re going to keep pushing for more intervention, more prevention, and more opportunities to build trust that makes every resident safer.”
Today, Garriques continues his work across southeast St Mary, leading outreach sessions in local schools and showing up for the community that has come to see him as one of their own.