There was a time in Jamaica when men (or boys) in uniform conveyed a sense of pride and positive authority. Yeah, man! I even remembered a time when almost every young boy in short pants imagined himself inna big man uniform. Whether it was soldier, police, fire brigade, Salvation Army, or even just a traditional high-school sixth-form uniform, such attire used to be seen as sources of aspiration and inspiration.

And there's also something about a strong man standing rigid at attention in shiny boots and stiff khaki that seems to also have a powerful effect on the ladies. Fi real, mi friends! There's even a lovely old folk song that speaks to that magnetic attraction that 'man wha wear uniform' evokes in women. Yu know it? No, not the attraction, man, the song! The Carifolk Singers have a delightfully memorable rendition of it in their repertoire.

Well, about the attraction now, it real-real, peeps. I picked up on the phenomenon very early as a child, and tried in vain to capitalise on it by attempting to fit in as a uniformed man. I joined Cub Scout, Land Scout, Sea Scout, Pathfinder and Cadet. I even tried to get into Girl Guides, with the hope of attracting girls by being a 'man wha wear uniform'.

Lauren Suval, writing in an article titled 'Men in uniform and Women's psyches' [from 'PsychCentral', a long-running, blog on the WORLD OF PSYCHOLOGY website], explores this attraction in depth. She quotes from an article in The Times of India that suggests that 'uniforms relay a sense of comfort and security, along with the notion that men dressed in this attire exhibit chivalry'. The article goes on to say that 'men in service all have reasons to be coveted. Their profession is such that they cannot help but exude chivalry in their mannerism, which is enough to impress women'.

When it comes to the Jamaican police uniform, though, the matter is completely different. How many women a yard you know who want to swoon with affection and scream, 'My hero!' when Squaddy appears on a scene? Not many, if any. Most would probably spit insults and spew ridicule. And pickney nowadays don't beam with respect and glow with admiration when they see police uniform. No, star, dem more tend to shudder in terror and bristle with contempt.

Look here nuh. As I sent big-ups to the police personnel in the audience in my role as MC for the Jamaican Canadian Association's Independence Gala in Toronto last Saturday, I noted the simple but significant fact that in Toronto and other jurisdictions, the police bodies are called 'police service' but our Jamaican police are branded as a 'force'. And try as they might, it is seen by many as a cruel, evil and oppressive force. If yu tink a lie, ask the friends and family of Mario Deane!

Yes, peeps, Jamaican police have a serious image problem. And that's because, well, dem have whole heap of other serious problems, not least of which are rampant corruption and blatant abuse of power. Yes, there are many hard-working and decent officers trying to make a difference. And I have friends and family in the force who I love and respect.

However, when a young police officer who could be the son of somebody I taught in high school is doing a routine traffic check and proceeds to bark at me and call me 'boy', it becomes easy to blurt out something like 'mi nuh like police!'

And just as easily, I could end up like Mario Deane, brutally beaten to death while in the custody of people who are duty-bound to 'serve and protect' me. All the system has given him thus far are cheap words and hollow promises. I'm adding my voice to the many calling for Mario Deane's case to result in decisive action and real justice - not 'just ice!'

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