EVERY military and paramilitary organisation has its specific standard operation procedures which govern its peculiar institutional operations. And it is failure to adhere to these basics that have often brought these forces, be it army, or police, into serious dissension with the public and general opinion in whatever country or theatre of operation such infringements occur. 

In the case of a police force, such procedures have been designed to deal with situations ranging from the not so threatening to the very serious ones. And as far as is understood, every citizen is governed by the application of such rules as it may apply to the specific occasion. This is inclusive of even the serving policeman/woman. This means that they, too, as upholders and defenders of the law, are bound to follow their own guidelines in personal matters that may affect them. One may refer to the well known saying, “You know better, then do better.”
Certainly, it is because of failure to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures of the Guyana Police Force, in which cadet officer, Franz Paul is a serving member, much less to be reminded of the old adage alluded to above, that has resulted in his remand to prison on very serious charges – inflicting grievous bodily harm, discharging a loaded firearm with intent and common assault, in addition to one for conspiring to pervert the course of justice. These are as a result of the allegation that Paul shot 16 year old Alex Griffith in his mouth on April 30, as a result of a robbery report.
Even, as it has been reported, that a relative of Paul’s had been robbed, then despite being a member of the Guyana Police Force, he was obligated to have her file the mandatory report for investigation. Since everyone is obliged with such a procedure, then it is no less for this officer or any relation to him. But to then proceed to Griffith’s residence, drag him out of his home as is the standard fashion for the longest while; accuse him, to which he apparently had been able to provide an alibi, then take him to a dam where it was alleged that he was physically assaulted before being shot in the mouth in what has been described as Russian roulette style, signalled that officer Paul was prepared to exact his particular brand of justice. But Griffith survived to tell his story that elicited the usual public outrage against another police excess that is unending.
There have been many instances in which members of the police force have taken action outside of the law, against persons who may have offended their friend/family in some manner. Whereas, some of the alleged offenders were afterwards turned over to the authorities for lawful processing, others were not.
Now it is a very common sight, police taking alleged suspects into custody, and often physically abusing them even before the obligatory investigative process begins. Even persons not known to be offenders have experienced such jackboot treatment at the hands of some of the nation’s law enforcement representatives. There seems to be a presumption on the part of such ranks that being lawmen ascribes such rights to them as far as such conduct, totally unlawful, is concerned. But such is not the laid down operational rules for the Force. Call it a continuous distortion that is responsible for this kind of behaviour that has resulted in a schism with the general Guyanese community.
What is astonishing, and unforgiving, is that Paul, up to that time of active duty, was being groomed for future leadership responsibilities within the Guyana Police. Moreover, he would have been in command of a party of policemen. It would have been expected that at such a level, he ought to have been at his best in terms of professionalism, especially in upholding the dictum of due process.
Such an act is not only totally unbecoming as a policeman and would–be police officer, but continues to add and extend to an already abysmal perception of the Force by a public that is distrustful of its general behaviour, apart from being disgusted and contemptuous.
We ask the question whether Force members are oblivious to what such acts on their part have done to relations with the communities at large, and to the fact, also, that such a pattern will not in any way contribute towards combating crime, thus making our communities safer? These inhumane acts continue to send an unmistakably negative signal to citizens.
This alleged incident, occurring at a time when much effort is being made by the police to rebuild trust and closer ties with the communities, can only jeopardize such endeavours that have started to bear fruit in some locales.