Commissioner of Police met with A Division Ranks
-New strategies in various aspects of Policing to take effect
“Perform your duties with diligence, carry yourself with pride, remain steadfast, focussed and be professional each day and night as you report for duty; I did it, your Commander did it, other Senior Officers did it and you can do it also”
This was the pronouncement by Commissioner of Police Leslie James as he met and interacted with ranks of Police ‘A’ Division today at Brickdam Station Compound.
In his remarks to the ranks, the Commissioner also spoke of various aspects of policing and urged the officers to always be professional as they executed their duties.
Prior to addressing the ranks, the Commissioner inspected a parade comprised of Sergeants and Constables most of whom impressed the Top Cop with their turn-out and bearings.
In attendance were: Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ Paul Williams DSM; Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ Maxine Graham DSM; Deputy Commissioner ‘Law Enforcement’ Lyndon Alves; Head Special Branch, Deputy Commissioner Nigel Hoppie DSM; Commander ‘A’ Division, Assistant Commissioner Marlon Chapman; Senior and Junior Officers and Other Ranks.
LEADERSHIP
The Commissioner noted that the organisation is at a critical juncture and through professionalism and the leadership of his Office, he and his team will take the Guyana Police Force forward.
“[With] Us at the helm, daily we will demonstrate that (leadership) for you to follow, for you to emulate, therefore we will be deliberately examining our human resources, management and we will be dealing with training and improving our infrastructure” the Commissioner noted.
BASIC TRAINING
In the area of training, the Top Cop said he and his team will be examining the curriculum. “What we have are trainees undergoing months of instruction, after which they will be deployed to the various Divisions with expectations of executing professional work…. very soon we will have the average trainee in a better position to interact with anyone he or she engages with; therefore, we must revise our training curriculum” the Commissioner reiterated.
The Commissioner noted that ranks working at the various training institutions are to be of a high calibre so that the trainees themselves can see them as leaders.
He continued “We will strengthen our training institutions and at the end of the training that product that has been deployed would be men and women who will be seen as professionals and will conduct themselves in accordance with the Standing Orders”.
OVERSEAS/LOCAL TRAINING
According to the Commissioner, ranks who are exposed to training locally, regionally and internationally will be allowed to have an interface at their respective Divisions or Headquarters to demonstrate what they have learned. The Force’s Administration will also give ranks the opportunity to engage in the field of study they were exposed to.
“I know ranks having been trained and upon return might not have had the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learnt, so we have had a rethink of that and that has now changed” the Commissioner posited.
He also encouraged ranks who might not have been selected to attend courses, to make themselves eligible for such programmes. “I would like to see each member of the Force rigorously pursuing higher learning, after all, an educated workforce can turn around the image the Guyana Police Force currently, has,” Commissioner James underscored.
NO DEPARTMENT IN THE FORCE WILL BE REFERRED TO AS A ‘DUMPING GROUND’
Commissioner James emphasised that no department in the Guyana Police Force will be referred to as a “dumping ground”.
“If a particular rank has committed a breach, that rank will be dealt with; if the rank’s behaviour is so chronic, that issue will be addressed, he or she would not be transferred to departments and then after a while the department is referred to as a dumping ground, it will not be, we have had a rethink of it and that has changed. When there are breaches, it must be followed with sanctions from the Standing Orders”.
AMENDMENT OF THE POLICE STANDING ORDERS
The Top Cop noted that the Guyana Police Force’s Standing Orders will be reviewed with the requisite amendments and recommendations being made, because, he noted “this is a revolving world we are living in, a revolving society and what might have been good then may not necessarily be good now, so that is a work in progress”.
DO NOT ENGAGE IN LAND DISPUTES
The Commissioner issued a stern warning for ranks not to engage in Civil Matters such as Land and Landlord and Tenant disputes because such matters do not require police intervention and actions; those matters are for the courts. He suggested that ranks first seek advice from their superiors when such matters are being reported.
PROMOTION
Commissioner James also urged all qualified ranks to write the requisite Qualifying Promotion Examinations in order to be eligible for advancement to the next rank.
In his closing he urged the ranks “to remain vigilant as you have done, remain professional as you are expected to be, conduct yourselves in a manner that our citizens would be proud of and you must consider that our country daily is being visited by persons who would like to invest in our development so, therefore, we must demonstrate that professionalism when we engage with persons who come here as visitors and even to our citizens. It is not difficult,” the Commissioner said.
Meanwhile, during his brief remarks, Commander ‘A’ Division, Assistant Commissioner Marlon Chapman, whose division is responsible for approximately 56 percent of police activities in Guyana, said that thus far for 2018 his Division has performed admirably and has seen a reduction in serious crimes, the solving of high-profile cases and the unearthing of narcotics and arms and ammunition.
“The ranks will continue to do what they have to do, professionally, and I would not sit back and allow indiscipline to play any role in my administration and so I will remain a disciplinarian” the Commander noted.
By: Asif Hakim, Lance Corporal 22739