‘Losing the legs didn’t make me less of a man’ - Double amputee serving JCF proudly

Despite losing his legs in 2017, Corporal Warren Francis continues to give his service to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), which he joined in 1988.

Francis, an alumnus of Ferncourt High School in St Ann, dove head-first into his law-enforcement career. Initially assigned to the now-defunct Beat and Foot Division in downtown Kingston, he later spent several years in the band division. His professional journey took him through various locations in the Westmoreland Police Division, beginning at the Savanna-la-Mar Police Station. From there, he served in Negril, Bethel Town, and, ultimately, Frome. His responsibilities, predominantly reliant on his legs, involved driving across Jamaica to transport prisoners, documents, and police personnel. But the turning point in Francis's life occurred in 2017 while stationed at Frome. A diabetic, Francis also had to deal with poor circulation, which culminated in the loss of his legs.

"I lost my legs the very same year in December. I was on leave after about a year, then after the amputation healed and I was able to resume duties, I went back to the Negril Police Station. But then I started to feel ill again. That's when I was introduced to the Police Convalescent Centre," he said. Despite his initial despair at losing his legs, he adopted a resilient mindset.

"I had to accept the fact that the legs were gone, and that they would never come back, so now I am alive and thankful," he said. The Police Convalescent Centre in Black River, St Elizabeth, became his refuge, catering to officers recovering from injuries sustained in the line of duty.

"In my almost three years there I saw some other colleagues, they had legs, but they were in a worse position in terms of movement. I was able to move around, room to room, making jokes and encouraging them. At that point I had to give God thanks for still being alive."

Through physical therapy and training, Francis mastered tactile movements and adapted to using his hands for daily activities. His recovery led him to be assigned in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, where he now supervises, briefs, and debriefs police officers before operations. Francis was recently recognised by the JCF as one of the Long Service and Good Conduct awardees for 2023.

"It was a feeling of joy and pride, a moment of gratitude, because I heard them calling, "Franco", and I figured those were my friends and colleagues [from] when I just started out," he said.

Reflecting on his journey, Francis said, "Losing the legs didn't make me less of a man."

"I still feel that strength and vigour to go on, so I did not make it a deterrent. I was not going to just let the situation make me lay down and play dead," he said. His high spirits manifested in a resilient attitude, best captured by him singing the lyrics, " Pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again," made famous by the late reggae icon Peter Tosh.

Supported by family, friends and colleagues, Francis emphasised the universal nature of challenges and the importance of acceptance. His message, which he hopes will resonate with others is, "Don't say die when you are not dead." Francis' pledge is to be a beacon of hope, strength, and happiness for those who know his story, and those who will come across it.