The Acting Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken has promised a comprehensive probe of a New Year’s Day shooting at Huntley, Mahaicony that claimed the lives of a cop and a fisherman.
Details surrounding the incident have not been revealed by the police.
Hicken, along with senior officials of Regional Police Division Five, spoke with Beverley Dundas, the mother of 20-year-old Kishun Budburgh, the fisherman of Huntley, Mahaicony, who was killed in the shooting incident, a release from the police said.
The incident occurred at around 00:30 hrs New Year’s morning. Thirty-one-year-old Detective Corporal 20922 Dwayne McPherson also died in the shooting incident. Hicken had visited his family earlier in the morning.
During his brief interaction with Dundas at the Mahaicony Police Station, Hicken expressed his condolences and assured her that a comprehensive investigation is currently underway.
“I am transparent, and I want to be transparent with you, and whatever happens will be revealed at a later stage, and whichever direction the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions) advises, so shall it be,” said Commissioner Hicken.
The release said that Hicken told the grieving woman that he will visit her at a later date since he doesn’t want to interrupt the investigation that is currently ongoing.
Dundas was at the time speaking with members of the Major Crimes Unit from the Criminal Investigation Department, Georgetown who were at Mahaicony station to conduct investigations.
Accompanying Commissioner Hicken during his brief visit to the Mahaicony Police Station were Assistant Commissioner and Commander of Regional Division # 5 Kurleigh Simon, Head of the Office of Professional Responsibility Elston Baird, Deputy Superintendent London, along with several other ranks.
Earlier in the morning, Hicken and team visited McPherson’s family.
Hicken expressed condolences, on behalf of the Guyana Police Force, to Corporal McPherson’s mother, his pregnant wife, four-year-old child and other family members and relatives present at their Parfait Harmonie home on the West Bank of Demerara.
The release said that Hicken assured the family that a comprehensive probe is currently ongoing in relation to the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.
Earlier in the morning, Commander for Regional Division #5 Simon, who shared a close working relationship with Corporal McPherson, visited the grieving family and expressed his condolences.
The release said that the Guyana Police Force will take care of all the funeral expenses, and counselling support for the family. Also, Commissioner Hicken assured Corporal McPherson’s wife that additional support will be given to the family by the Force’s Community Relations Department, including the educational needs for their 4-year-old child.
