Dear Editor,
It is time for the Guyana Police Force to come out of its state of denial and admit that there are an alarming number of ranks who do not uphold the law of Guyana. There are increasingly vocal complaints from frustrated victims about police brutality. The latest dastardly acts of allegedly hitting a schoolboy’s head on a vehicle and shooting another are the most recent manifestations of this unacceptable behaviour.
The time has come for the police to sensitize their ranks to the human rights of detainees and correct methods of arrest. Police officers need to stop growing bellies, and grow the necessary physical fitness to run down unarmed suspects. The concept of minimum force needs to be emphasised and safe weapon-handling techniques need to be continuously drilled.
Too often we see policemen on patrol operating casually, weapons pointed in unsafe directions with finger inside the trigger guard, safety catch off in crowded downtown areas, wearing non-standard headgear, and shaking down every motor-cyclist in sight.
We have grown tired of the standard, ‘scuffle ensued and the weapon went off’ diatribe which the PR officer conveniently keeps on his desk for all situations.
Seriously, don’t the ladies and gentlemen of the Guyana Police Force have any pride in themselves and their reputation?
This situation has a simple fix: effective leadership. Can the operational arms of the force take an example from the head of the PR department?
Yours faithfully,
Learie Barclay
