There is expected to be a shake-p in the command of some important divisions in the Guyana Police Force and some officers are very unhappy with some of the looming changes.
Multiple sources told Stabroek News that head of the Special Branch, Senior Superintendent Leslie James will be the Crime Chief and a “young superintendent” will be his deputy. Deputy Crime Chief Assistant Commissioner Winston Cosbert will be posted to head the Special Branch.
In addition, Senior Superintendent Clifton Hicken will now be the commander of `A’ Division. Hicken is the acting ‘D’ Division commander, after Assistant Commissioner Eric Bassant proceeded on pre-retirement leave.
Senior Superintendent Ian Amsterdam, who is the acting commander of `A’ Division following the retirement of Assistant Commissioner George Vyphuis, will now be posted to ‘D’ Division, which he will head.
According to sources, Superintendent Errol Watts will head the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) while the present head Superintendent K. Simon will be the head of the Police Training School.
The heads of the other police divisions, Stabroek News was told, will remain unchanged.
Speaking with Stabroek News yesterday, a police source said that the shakeup is “shocking.” The source said that one of the biggest shockers is the removal of Cosbert, who has about a year and a half of service left with the Force. According to the source, Cosbert has been sent to a unit that does nothing. It was explained that the Special Branch was a “spy unit” at one time but these days the ranks there hardly do anything. The source said that what more or less goes on there is “clerical work.” The source said that this move is “insulting and demoraliing” to Cosbert.
Another shocker, the source said, is the decision to put Hicken above the current commander of ‘C’ Division C Griffith, who was next in line to head ‘A’ Division. The source noted too that with Vyphuis’ departure, Griffith may have had a “legitimate” expectation to be posted to ‘A’ Division.
According to the source, the changes are troubling to the extent that it is clear that professionalism has been ignored and that loyalty and affiliation to particular officials are now the guiding factors in the placements.
The source said that the shakeup in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) should be of worry as it now has inexperienced persons at its helm. It was pointed out that the new head has no training or experience in criminal investigations. Another source said that the departure of former Crime Chief and now acting police commissioner Seelall Persaud and now Cosbert will create problems as “there are not a lot of (experienced) officers left.” The source said that while Cosbert’s removal was a little surprising, it was not unexpected.
Stabroek News was told too that Senior Superintendent Marlon Chapman, who is presently the lead ‘A’ Division detective was next in line after Cosbert. A source said that it would have been wiser to promote Cosbert to Crime Chief and name Chapman as his deputy.
Persaud is expected to announce the changes next week.
