– Police Commissioner Greene
POLICE Commissioner Henry Greene said yesterday that, based on information received, the Springlands, Corentyne Berbice murder/suicide victims shared a close relationship. Expressing sadness at the tragedy, he said the relationship was so close that Assistant Superintendent Ivelaw Murray used to provide meals for Constable Kevin Shepherd, who were both stationed at Springlands Police Station.
Mr. Greene said Murray even allowed Shepherd to drive his car, visited his home and gave him privileges in the Enquiries Office, which the Commissioner deemed “inappropriate conduct”.
However, Greene explained that there is no law that says policemen cannot be friends and share a relationship at work.
Greene told reporters that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is not happy about what happened but cannot do more than it is already doing, in terms of training and mentoring ranks to work in accordance with the Standing Orders.
He said his understanding is that the policemen were friends but did not share an intimate relationship, as was reported in a section of the print media quoting the Divisional Commander,  Assistant Commissioner Steve Merai.
The latter had been asked to elaborate on the relationship between the two dead ranks, one who shot and killed the other before shooting himself early Sunday morning.
A Police release had said Murray and Shepherd were involved in an argument in the Barrack Room at Springlands Police Station, from where a gunshot was heard.
The release said the Subordinate Officer-in-Charge of Traffic at the station ran to see what had happened and, as he was going up, he saw Murray hurriedly descending the stairs.
He enquired of him but having got no response from Murray, who left the station compound, the Subordinate Officer (SO) proceeded upstairs to the Barrack Room where he found Shepherd with a gunshot wound to the head.
Checks were made but no spent shell was found at the scene and subsequent efforts, by senior Police officers, to contact Murray proved futile.
Later, however, ranks entered his home about 03:25 h and found him lying on the floor of the living room with a gunshot wound below the chin and the Force service revolver in his hand, with three live rounds and three spent shells nearby.
The Police said it was ascertained that the firearm was issued to Murray from the station and it is to be sent to the Ballistics Section for tests to be done.
Meanwhile, personnel from the Police Office of Professional Responsibility have travelled to Berbice to assist with the investigations into the deaths of Murray and Shepherd.