The Guyana Police Force (GPF) confirmed yesterday that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has returned the file concerning the special branch ranks who opened fire on a cop in a case of mistaken identity on March 11th and has recommended that departmental charges be brought against the four ranks involved.
This was disclosed by the head of GPF’s Corporate Communication Unit, Mark Ramotar, who gave an update yesterday in relation to the shooting incident involving the Special Branch ranks. He informed that the file was received by the Crime Chief on Tuesday, and that there are procedures that have to be followed before the charges are filed.
The GPF had been silent for five days after the incident on March 11. Though the cop was not injured, firing at his car could have resulted in serious consequences for him and bystanders.
In a release on March 16, the GPF confirmed that an investigation by its internal affairs body, the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was underway into the shooting at Sergeant Ronald Payne of the Providence Police Station by five ranks attached to Special Branch.
The incident occurred at Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, on the night of March 11. According to police, the ranks pursued Payne to the Providence Police Station and were subsequently placed under close arrest. Their firearms were seized.
The Special Branch ranks consisting of a sergeant, corporal, lance corporal, and two constables, were at the time assisting Regional Division # 3 ranks in the investigation of a robbery/murder, and were on the lookout for a dark-coloured Toyota Rumion car that the suspects had used as a getaway vehicle.
