‘… a classical example of courage, bravery and determination to confront armed and dangerous criminals’
Oslyn Travis Glasgow, 27, of Fyrish, Corentyne was buried on Saturday, fittingly with full military honours for a young man who paid the ultimate price for trying to protect the community in which he served.
Detective constable, Glasgow was killed two Fridays ago after he and a team of officers from the Whim Police Station confronted three heavily-armed pirates who were also killed.
The dead pirates who were later identified as ex-soldiers James Gibson and Cliff Chichester and Cranston Gill opened fire on the police.
Glasgow’s colleagues, ceremonially attired, carried his casket which was draped with a red and blue flag from the Guyana Police Force (GPF).
A funeral service was held at the Christian Charismatic International Mission Church at Williamsburg, Corentyne prior to the burial at Fyrish where officers bade farewell to their fallen hero with a 21-gun salute.
Glasgow’s siblings and other close relatives broke down in loud wails before and after the sermon which was conducted by Pastor Hemraj Dipoo.
His mother, Doreen Glasgow remained composed as she held his son, three-year-old Javis Akon Glasgow and sang along with the hymns that were emanating from the church before the proceedings began.
In a tribute, Pastor Phillip Campbell said that Glasgow who was part of the church choir had attended their prayer meeting the morning before his demise.
He attended the Cropper Primary School before moving on to the Lower Corentyne Secondary. Upon completion he worked briefly at a rice mill before joining the force.
His death was described by Commander of ‘B’ Division, Krishna Lekhraj as being “a classical example of courage, bravery and determination to confront armed and dangerous criminals.”
In a brief profile, he said Glasgow joined the force on December 10, 2001 after graduating from the Felix Austin Police College at Adventure, Corentyne. He was first stationed at the Whim Police Station and then at the Albion station in the general duties section.
He served as court orderly for the Whim and Reliance Magistrate’s Court and also performed duties in the Quick Reaction Group in the number 2 sub-division. He was also “incorporated in patrols…”
In April of this year he became a member of the Criminal Investigation Department. Lekhraj told the large gathering at the service that he feels a personal loss at Glasgow’s demise and that it would remain in his memory.
On the night before Glasgow was killed Lekhraj stopped the patrol around 9:20 and challenged the leader of the team to catch the criminal elements and to provide results.
He issued a call for the community to work in partnership in with the force. The commander pledged to continue supporting the family.
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee in his remarks said that Glasgow must be honoured and respected as he was killed in the line of duty. He mentioned that the police are making “such great sacrifice” while many are enjoying leisure with their families.
“Gone are the days when policemen would run and hide during this type of action when the criminals had the upper hand.”
He said Glasgow was brave enough to go on an armed, lethal confrontation with criminals in which “equally powerful firearms were involved. He played an important role in dismantling the gang… and even though he is dead, he is a hero.”
Meanwhile, in an invited comment, Lekhraj told Stabroek News that Glasgow “is yet another example of a demonstration of the willingness to put his life on the line for the protection of his community and the country as a whole.”
He said too that entire team that was part of the operation must be highly commended for showing their determination in confronting armed and dangerous criminals.
He said that like in the past, the Police Administration would provide the necessary assistance to his beneficiaries – son and mother.
He also acknowledged that there has been “an outpouring of assistance from the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, the University of Guyana Berbice Campus, individuals and business persons.”
Lekhraj pointed out that the family met with the Commissioner of Police during last week while the police in Berbice “have been providing all the assistance in direct ways. I see the assistance of the community as an indirect support to fight the bandits.”
Kennrick Parris, Chairman of the Police Association which looks after the welfare of all the ranks told this newspaper that they are looking at a policy document that deals with benefits for relatives of officers who die in the line of duty.
He said the association would engage the police and government to make it a number one priority for next year because “a police officer cannot know when he leaves home if he would return alive.”
He said the association currently has a benevolent fund to which officers contribute monthly and that they are looking to increase the fund. He stated that Glasgow’s death would not go in vain and was happy that the perpetrators have been caught.
The pirates had also held five fishermen hostage and eventually killed one of them, Hector Boodhoo, 57, whose nude body was found bound to a tree with cuts on his ear and the back of his neck.
Among other persons in attendance were chairman of Region Six, Zulfikar Mustapha, Community Relations Officer, Fizal Jafarally, Commander of ‘C’ Division, Balram Persaud and Crime Chief, ‘B’ Division, Marlon Chapman.