On Q95 FM Radio popular ‘In the SpotLight’ program which aired on Monday, March 1, 2021, host Ferdina Frampton’s guest was the 33 year NYPD Police Lieutenant who hails from the southwestern corner village of Soufriere.
According to Ms. Frampton, “This was one of the most upbeat, exciting and inspiring interviews I have conducted since I began working in radio some thirty years ago.”
And for good measure and reason. Most listeners and Facebook viewers were thrilled with this young, confident, and debonair lieutenant as she chronicled her outstanding journey from college to rising star in one of the largest (about 40, 000 sworn officers) and most complex police departments globally.
According to Lt. Francis, who is also an adjunct professor at John Jay College, “I cannot believe 10 years ago I was at the police academy and now I run a detective squad.”
After immigrating to America from Dominica at 17-years-old, Rennae joined the NYPD as a police cadet in 2007 while studying at John Jay College Criminal Justice program. She is the first black female NYPD Squad Commander at the 46th Precinct in the Bronx.
Frampton’s guest could not come at a more opportune time for Dominicans who are emotionally and finically hurting for a myriad of reasons. A collapsed economy, high unemployment rate, a bitterly divided country, a global pandemic, mistrust of the police and governance issues to name a few.
Lt. Francis’ upbeat attitude during the interview was reassuring. This writer’s take home message from the exchanges during the interview was that Dominicans are indeed a resilient, tenacious and successful people where ever we land in the global community despite insurmountable odds and challenges. We would hope similar opportunities are afforded to young people at home to work hard and persevere in order to achieve their dreams and goals.
The Lieutenant said that she supervises 33 officers and will not stand for any inappropriate, coercion or illegal interrogation or beatings of suspects during their custody- according to the commander, “None of that stuff.” Were any Dominica Police Force officers who wear gabardine uniforms, their civilian handers and minders and politicians who micro-manage and meddle in the day to day operations of the police force listening to the program?
The Commander conveyed that policing is not easy, even more so being a detective squad commander in a high crime precinct in NYC. In spite of these challenges and realities, she conveyed that law enforcement professionals are duty bound and constitutionally required to honor and uphold their oath. That includes lawful and humane methods of interrogation and treatment while in police custody. Law enforcement officers enforce and uphold the law and not their personal feelings or/and political affiliations.
Lt. Francis conveyed in no uncertain terms that the oath which every law enforcement officer takes is to serve and protect the citizenry, public and to defend their country’s constitution. All Dominicans at home and abroad ought to join and say thanks for her hard work, humility, and success for making us proud and instilling hope for a brighter tomorrow. She is definitely a role model to our youth.
We respect, appreciate and are immensely proud of you. We wish you well and much continued success Rennae. God’s speed.
Good luck my dear. That’s the whole idea to have diversity and Black people represented in these police forces. But the white supremacists & kkk have infiltrated all these police dep’ts big time in LAPD, NYPD etc, their police unions, and seek to reverse that. Today police unions are a government within the U.S gov’t, even threatening to derail govt officials that speak up. Black officers in Dallas PD even had to create their own police union. I wish you luck because fascists & Nazzi run police in USA, weaponized against Blacks. You’ll need to stand up to them to help make things right there. That’s a tall order though, but with the little that you can do they can be brought down. Don’t be afraid to stick your neck out for us. Best wishes.
Renae has solid roots, having come from parents whose families know the value of honest and hard work. We are proud of her achievement and congratulate her family, especially her sister Gina and grandmother, Mrs. Philomena Francis who played a major part in her upbringing.