When police constable Sherwin Pantlitz, 36, did not show up for the lunch date he made with his wife to celebrate her birthday, she didn’t think much of it because of the demanding nature of his job.
A Tactical Services Unit (TSU) rank, Sherwin was very passionate about his work, according to the newly-widowed Enola Pantlitz, who is also a police officer and is attached to Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.
But little did she know that her husband of 14 years would never get the chance to celebrate this or any other birthday with her after he succumbed to a single gunshot wound to the right side of his head during the confrontation with miner Deryck Khanai. Another policeman, Lance Corporal Michael Forde and two civilians were also killed.
Sherwin had only returned from overseas two weeks ago after an extended vacation. He had been away from the job for 161 days.
“He had plenty opportunity to leave this wuk, but he say, ‘Enola, I love my job.’ I figure to myself that is he seriousness about his wuk that mek this happen,” Enola said yesterday.
From their Lot 2355 La Parfait Harmonie home, a weeping Enola described her late husband as a peaceful man, a loving husband, an adoring father to their two children and a dedicated member of the Guyana Police Force.
She last saw him yesterday morning when he took her to work. It was during their journey that Sherwin told her that he would pick her up around noon and take her to lunch to celebrate her birthday. He also gave her some money and told her that she should go shopping in the event he did not make it to take her to lunch.
Enola said that while at work, her eyes wandered towards the clock a few minutes after 12pm. She thought of the fact that she had not heard from her husband since she grew to understand the demanding nature of his job.
However, after 1pm Enola received a phone call from a trainee police officer, who advised her to check on her husband since he had heard that he had been shot. Subsequently, a friend informed her that information was seen on Facebook which suggested that her husband had been shot and might be dead.
“I then went to [St Joseph’s] Mercy Hospital to see if he went there but them tell me he not there. So I went to Georgetown Hospital, and is deh I hear that the doctor want see me. When I see the doctor, he said he was sorry to inform me that my husband died and that they try all they could,” she said.
At their home, Enola pointed out a number of trophies displayed on a television stand, which Sherwin won in rifle shooting competitions. He was set to take part in another such competition yesterday, his wife said, while adding that he looked forward to these competitions and she showed pictures of him posing with rifles. (Erica Williams)
