Former Commissioner of Police, Laurie Lewis passed away yesterday at his Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.
Lewis, who had been suffering from a kidney ailment, was 71.
His wife, Jennifer told Stabroek News yesterday at the family’s home at Sea View Road, Bachelor’s Adventure that the former top cop died at around 1:10 pm yesterday in bed. She said that he was undergoing dialysis treatment for the kidney ailment for some two years.
He spent the past three months visiting the hospital and according to his wife, six weeks ago Lewis suffered a seizure and was hospitalized but soon recovered. Yesterday, he lost the battle with the ailment.
Lewis retired from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in September 2001. After retirement, he worked as a consultant for security firms around the country. He religiously attended the police force’s functions, his wife said, adding that he would usually express concern over security related issues even into his retirement. She said too that he worked actively on their chicken farm at home, something he enjoyed.
Lewis grew up on Laluni Street in Queenstown in the city where he spent most of his teenage life and attended Queen’s College. He moved to the ECD in 1986.
The former Top Cop studied Public Management at the University of Guyana and he also graduated with a law degree from the University. According to his wife, Lewis often stressed many times to police ranks the importance of advancing their education and he also asserted that the only way one can overcome poverty is by furthering his/her education.
Lewis was a past president of the Queen’s College Old Student’s Association (QCOSA) and was said to be one of the longest serving leaders of the alumni group. He was also an active member of the St George’s Cathedral choir.
Acting Police Commissioner, Leroy Brumell said that the police force will have fond memories of Lewis. He said that Lewis actively supported the force and he would always be present at functions undertaken by the police force. He said that soon after his appointment, Lewis called to give him advice which he noted he will pass on to the ranks.
Former Top Cop, Winston Felix said that he was saddened at the passing of Lewis. He said that his death came as shock to him even though he was ailing. He described Lewis as a keen police officer.
Another former Top Cop, Henry Greene also expressed sadness at the news. ”My heart goes out to his family, I think he was a good person and as commissioner he always had the force’s best interest at heart”, Greene said.
Lewis, a father of four boys, was the second longest serving Police Commissioner; he was appointed Police Commissioner in August 1990 and retired from the post in September 2001. He had been allowed to serve beyond the mandatory retirement age of 55. He was succeeded by Floyd McDonald. The QC old boy served the GPF for almost four decades.
Stabroek News reported on a ceremony filled with mixed emotions that September afternoon in 2001 at the Eve Leary Ground where Lewis called it a day.
Dark shades
When he was called to the podium to make his last public speech as commissioner of the GPF, Lewis publicly admitted that the dark shades he was wearing at the time was to shield the fact that he was in tears.
He described the parade which was held in his honour as one of the best he had ever seen. “I was touched with a lot of emotion”, Lewis told the hundreds who turned up to wish him farewell. He went down memory lane giving brief descriptions of the years he spent in the force.
Lewis described his 11 years as Police Commissioner as the “hardest years of his life”, adding that he worked under five presidents and he disclosed that the transition periods were very “painful”.
He added, “but I did not do it alone,” referring to the support he received from his ranks.
Lewis is survived by his wife, his four sons and four siblings.
Lewis rose through the ranks of the police force from the intelligence apparatus that existed in the 1980s. When he assumed the post of commissioner in 1990, Desmond Hoyte was President.
His first major challenge as Top Cop was the unrest on the day of the historic 1992 general elections when the Elections Commission building was besieged by angry crowds. Lewis had been criticized for not restoring order and lifting the siege of the building. Order was only restored after Hoyte conceded that the PNC had lost the general elections.
The Commissioner’s next major challenge came with the 1993 murder of security guard Monica Reece whose body was dumped on Main Street. The still-unsolved murder seized the attention of the public and became a metaphor for the force’s failings and raised questions about whether the force was single-minded about solving the case.
Throughout Lewis’ tenure the question of whether the force needed professional help from overseas was raised but this was not supported by either the force or the government.
Many failings of the force and the need for intelligence-led policing were subsequently highlighted by a report done by a senior UK policeman Paul Symonds.
Lewis had initiated the police impact patrols on assuming office and these were intended to respond rapidly to crime scenes.
Condolences
The Office of the President last evening extended condolences on Lewis’ passing.
The message read:
“The Office of the President regrets the passing of the late Laurie Lewis, DSS, DSM., Former Commissioner of Police of Guyana. Lewis was a dedicated public servant who spent most of his adult life in the security sector and discharged his duties with honour and distinction throughout those years.
He will always be remembered as someone who embodied the finest values and principles of public service.
“During his impressive public service career, Lewis was known for his affable personality that won him friendship across Guyana and was admired for his firm stance on principles, which earned him respect from all those who knew him.
“He was a true son of the soil who with utmost commitment worked tirelessly for the development of his country.”
