The police yesterday said that with effect from May 22, 2018, Deputy Superintendent of Police Motie Dookie proceeded on Special Leave in the public’s interest, on full pay, as directed.
It was the latest change in status of the former SWAT Head who is facing disciplinary proceedings over the discovery of 30 cases of whisky in a bus he was travelling in last December.
Earlier this month, he was posted to the Police ‘A’ Division following his return from annual leave amidst the probe into whisky smuggling. Following concerns raised about this move, he was reassigned to Police Headquarters, Eve Leary a few days later. That decision has also now been changed.
Stabroek News understands that Acting Commissioner of Police and Crime Chief Paul Williams attended a high-level meeting last week Tuesday where a decision was made to have Dookie removed from ‘A’ Division and placed at the Force Control Unit, Eve Leary.
Dookie’s placement was said to be temporary until a further decision was made about his future within the profession.
Earlier this month, Stabroek News had reported that Dookie was posted to the Police ‘A’ Division where he was serving as the No. 2 Sub Divisional Officer.
The then Commissioner of Police (ag) David Ramnarine had confirmed this and told reporters that Dookie could not find himself anymore “within four walls” since at this point in time, some five to seven senior officers, ranking from Superintendents up are currently on “long” annual vacational leave .
He had said the leave has been accumulated for a number of years and with a “change of policy” in terms of payment for leave they had to proceed on their annual vacation.
Additionally, Ramnarine had said that over the last two and half years, the Guyana Police Force would have also seen some 15 senior officers from the ranks of Superintendents to Assistant Commissioners exiting.
As such, he said, “Dookie being a Deputy Superintendent of Police … in the circumstances which the force has to be superintended on a daily basis couldn’t find himself anymore within four walls”.
He said that the processes which are available to the police administration in relation to the conduct of Dookie were adhered to. “He is entitled to due process. A part has been completed”, he said.
This newspaper understands that concerns were expressed about these comments made by Ramnarine and this led to the reassigning to Police Headquarters and eventually the decision announced yesterday for Dookie to proceed on special leave.
Stabroek News was reliably informed that Dookie will only face disciplinary charges in the police force as the driver of the minibus in which the discovery was made has since taken full responsibility for whisky smuggling.
