The Guyana Police Force (GPF), through its Fallen Heroes Foundation, on Friday handed over almost $800,000 to the families of ranks who lost their lives in the line of duty over the years.
The cheques were distributed to nine families during a simple ceremony at the Police Officers’ Mess, Eve Leary.
The recipients were Abina La Rose, Triola Elias, Carleen Mickle, Nehena Bollers, Enola Franklyn, Rizpah Cosbert, Roxanne Gilkes, Neola Persaud and Adesia John-son. Between them, they have a total of 23 children.
The foundation was officially launched in 2015 by the then Police Commis-sioner Seelall Persaud to support the families of police officers who have died on the job. It is a collaboration between the GPF and the Cops and Faith Community Net-work.
The President of the Foundation, Pastor Raphael Massiah, said its biggest supporters are the serving ranks of the GPF, who each make a monthly donation. This, he said, has resulted in the foundation being able to raise significant sums towards the provision of education and for the welfare of the survivors.
“Every month they make a donation to this foundation and it is because they do that every single month we are able to garner the resources…to do what we are doing today and what we continue to do,” Massiah said.
In November last year, he said, the Foundation visited and interacted with the families from across the country. “One of the things that we did is that we worked with families over the Christmas holidays and we observed that they are growing children with growing needs,” Massiah said.
Consequently, he said, the Foundation’s executives have made a decision to provide each family with a computer. “So as to enable your children to pursue their academic track, whatever choice they make,” Massiah explained. A presentation of the computers to the families will be done at a later date, he said.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police Leslie James, in brief remarks, said whenever a rank dies in the line of duty, it is of concern to the force. As a result, he said, the GPF will remain fully committed to the work of the Foundation.
“…When persons lose their lives, it is a concern to us, especially in the line of duty and for us to be showing compassion to the relatives of deceased policemen, policewomen is very important to us,” James said, before emphasising that the activity is a clear demonstration of the importance of the issue to the GPF.
“This gesture is to demonstrate to them (relatives) that we do care for them even as they themselves are leading their own lives,” he added.
Among the families who received contributions were the widows of police Constable Sherwin Pantlitz and Sergeant Leonard La Rose.
Pantlitz was killed after he was hit by a stray bullet during the 2013 shootout at Middle Street, while La Rose was stabbed to death in 2016 when he and two other ranks were trying to arrest a rape suspect at Matthews Ridge, in Region One.
