Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brummel said investigations have been launched into the escape of two prisoners from the Leonora Police Station on Sunday, April 1, and a similar incident in Berbice last week.
“We cannot let this become prevalent,” Brummel told junior officers at the opening ceremony of the Junior Officers’ Course number 22 held at the Police Annexe at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary on Monday. He said that two on-duty police officers, one a corporal and the other a constable, were asleep when the two men escaped. “They grabbed their shoes and walked out,” Brummel said.
Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee with Acting Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell at the opening of the Guyana Police Force Junior Officers’ Course No. 22
The on-duty officers reported to their supervisor that the escapees also tore the charge out of the charge book. Brummel stated that this account was probably not accurate, and the ranks themselves may have tore out the charge after they woke up and discovered that the prisoners had escaped.
There were other officers in the building at the time, the police chief noted. Unfortunately, the escapees have not been apprehended.
The commissioner would not further comment on the escape of a prisoner from Berbice, but did say that investigations are underway to see if police were complicit in either case.
Commissioner Brummel noted that in light of these mishaps, the police force is once again under scrutiny; he told the junior officers that “the force can only be judged by the way you conduct yourself”. He said that “sloppy work” was not acceptable and impartiality was central to effective police work.
The commissioner noted many instances in which police paperwork on a case was done in a hurry or was done incorrectly and therefore required investigations from higher authorities. He said this was unacceptable and junior officers needed to take the officers course seriously.
He said, “Some ranks are disrespectful to the public,” and behave in a manner that is not conducive with the image the police is trying to emulate and noted that continued education was key and therefore, “succession planning in the police force is necessary”.
Disciplinary action
The Police Complaints Authority (PLA) had noted in its 2010 annual report that the attitude of some members of the Special Constabulary and traffic ranks leave much to be desired. The report said disciplinary action needs to be taken against ranks of the identified departments, so as to lift the image of the institution.
“They are rude, report for duty late, sleep while on duty, and are improperly dressed.” The report stated that “no firm action” is being taken against defaulters “who feel that they can do no wrong”.
The PCA suggested that the lack of disciplinary action against the defaulting ranks could be as a result of their “supervising officers” not being “firm enough” in dealing with them. “This matter must be addressed immediately,” the report stated.
In the meantime, the 2010 report added that the “behaviour of some traffic ranks is also very disturbing”. Several ranks of the traffic department were reportedly involved in corruption. “This must be attended with promptness as this practice seems to be spreading.”
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee echoed the commissioner’s comments, and stated that the ministry receives complaints about junior officers’ bad behaviour. “Combating crimes, suppressing the drugs trade and reducing traffic accidents,” need to be a priority for the GPF, Rohee stated.
