The Guyana Police Force is now mourning the death of one of its own after a Special Corporal died following a boating mishap in the Berbice River yesterday morning.
Special Corporal 11907 Chakumba Scipio, 43, known as Peter Scipio, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, Berbice, met his demise during the mishap in the river around 9.30 am. He is suspected to have drowned but police are investigating his death.
In a statement, the police said Scipio, who was a certified coxswain, had been captaining a vessel that was transporting a team of policemen and two civilians from New Amsterdam enroute to Sand Hills to investigate a series of thefts in the riverine community.
“As the boat was in the vicinity of Bermine, it was reported to have suddenly swayed and Scipio fell overboard and went under the water,” the statement said.
Sunday Stabroek was told that Scipio and nine other ranks were in the vessel when it hit an object, which resulted in Corporal Scipio and three other ranks falling overboard.
According to a source, the police vessel then began to take in water but the ranks on board were able to stabilise it quickly, after which three officers were rescued and a search was launched for Corporal Scipio. However, efforts to rescue him were in vain and his body was later retrieved by ranks of the Coast Guard. It is currently at the Arokium Funeral Parlour awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Scipio, who was the Divisional Electrician and Coxswain, joined the police force in 1999. He was the father of three daughters.
Scipio was described as a very humble, committed and hardworking officer.
