Three constables have been dismissed from the Guyana Police Force after an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) “misplaced” his firearm on December 27 last year at a gymkhana that was being held at Reliance, East Canje Berbice.
The dismissed ranks are Police Constable 23717 Donovan Walker, 23258 Shakeil Smith and 25484 Tariq McCalmon.
Stabroek News was told that constables Smith and McCalmon received their letters on April 20, while Walker received his on May 17. According to a source, Walker’s name was spelt incorrectly on his dismissal letter as such it had to be redone and resent.
In January, Commander of Region Six, Senior Superintendent, Shivpersaud Bacchus finally broke his silence on the matter and said that “there was an incident and during the incident, a police officer firearm was misplaced… I don’t want to say stolen, it was misplaced.”
According to him at that time an internal investigation had been launched into the matter.
As of yesterday, Stabroek News was told that the ASP was transferred from the Region Six Division, however, it is unclear if any other actions were taken against him.
Following the incident, the police released a report stating that an off-duty Berbice Police Constable and a friend of his were injured after a fight between two groups of men at the gymkhana held at Reliance, East Canje Berbice.
Mc Calmon, who was stationed at the Central Police Station at the time, and Lofon Humphrey, 39, a labourer of Vryman’s Erven, New Amsterdam were injured in the fight which occurred around 11 pm.
Stabroek News was told by eyewitnesses that the ASP, who was then new to Berbice, arrived at the location during the alleged turf fight and allegedly attempted to discharge a round in the air. This resulted in people grabbing onto him.
His firearm was reportedly taken away and the magazine was later found at the location after the crowd dispersed.
Police then launched an extensive search for the missing firearm. In January, Stabroek News was told several houses of known characters in Adelphi, East Canje Berbice were raided but the gun was never located.
A female who allegedly had knowledge of the whereabouts of the gun after the fact was eventually arrested and charged.
