The Guyana Police Force’s Criminal Investigation Department throughout the twelve Regional Police Divisions is soon expected to be strengthened, as 66 ranks yesterday successfully completed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Induction Course.
A release from the police said that small graduation ceremony was held at the Officers’ Training Centre, Camp Road, where the participants were presented with certificates.
Present at the ceremony were Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum; Officer-in-Charge of the Narcotics Branch, Superintendent Karl Wilson; Force Training Officer, Superintendent Keithon King and Officer-in-Charge of the Major Crimes Unit, Assistant Superintendent Mitchell Caesar.
The course started on February 14, 2022, and lasted for seven weeks during which the participants were exposed to fifty-two core topics critical to conducting criminal investigations, which were conducted by members of the Force as well as external personnel.
Some of the topics and areas that the participants were trained in are:
*Homicide Investigations *Integrity and Ethics in Law Enforcement
*Drug identification/Investigation *Money Laundering Investigation
*Cyber Crimes Investigation *Sexual Offences
*Robberies *Missing Persons Investigation
*Profiling of Prisoners, and; *Handwriting Examination
Crime Chief Blanhum who addressed the new detectives congratulated the participants while reminding them that “an effective Police Force is one that prevents and detects crimes in an efficient manner”, and as CID ranks they have to work as a team to be successful. Blanhum, the release said, also reminded the ranks of their responsibility as detectives saying, “Your duty of crime prevention and detection also extends to criminal investigation, prosecution and also the preservation of life and property”.
Constable Travis Hercules of Regional Police Division #7 was adjudged the best graduating student while Woman Constable Akezia August of Region #4C and Kimberly Gomez from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit won second and third places respectively and were rewarded with plaques for their extra effort and outstanding performances.