At awards ceremony…
THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) yesterday paid out $9M to some of its members, community policing groups (CPGs), other special groups and performers for good and outstanding work.
At the function, in the Police Officers’ Mess Annexe, Eve Leary, Georgetown, the Special Branch got $200,000; Criminal Investigations Department (CID)Headquarters $300,000; C, D, E & F and G Divisions $350,000 each; Divisions A and B $300,000 each and Tactical Service Unit (TSU)$500,000.
But Assistant Commissioner Leroy Brumell, responsible for Administration, said, this year, 981 members of the Force were awarded for good work.
He said $60M was disbursed in 1999 and $7M in 2009.
Addressing the gathering Commissioner Henry Greene said the main focus of the GPF is to maintain integrity and professionalism and 25 training programmes are being undertaken.
He said, despite the challenges, some ranks have been giving of their best, due to the significant improvement recorded in Police work.
Greene appealed to members of the GPF to conduct themselves in a professional and responsible manner as, sometimes, some of them make mistakes.
According to him, the Police work day and night and have had a significant number of the so-called bad eggs weeded out after they were identified by the commanders.
Greene said, with the human resources 700 plus short and the turnover rate, the GPF has managed to maintain a controllable level of crime.
Even though there are some unsolved crimes, the Police are working on patrols and they are out in the streets fighting criminals, he stated.
Greene pointed out that Police work is not office bound and, as such, all ranks are required to be out in the streets.
Sterling performances
He said the GPF has had positives and there is a lot to shout about, looking at the records, on which he commended ranks for their sterling performances.
Greene added that, so far, this year, 86 members of the GPF have been criminally charged and the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has had 63 complaints made against policemen and women.
In comparison, he revealed that, in 2001, the OPR received 168 complaints; 179 in 2008 and 135 in 2009.
Greene said the GPF is not allowing its members to do whatever they want and warned that errant ranks will be dealt with accordingly.
Giving statistics, he said, in A Division, there is a minus nine per cent reduction in crimes; minus 19 per cent in B Division; minus 31 per cent in C Division; minus 18 per cent  in D Division; minus 20 per cent in E&F Division; minus 20 per cent in G Division and minus  35 per cent overall.
Greene reported that, up to now in 2010,70 persons were murdered but noted that the suicide rate is even higher.
He lashed out at the media and said they must get the records before making statements regarding unsolved crimes and such matters.
Greene said all ranks who perform well must be rewarded and that is why the GPF makes awards twice yearly.
He acknowledged that the Police blow their own trumpets as a way of motivating the ranks who work diligently.
Balanced reports
Reiterating that, sometimes, the Police make mistakes, he charged that the slightest one is blown out of proposition by the media and he urged them to make balanced reports with regard to the GPF.
Alluding to fatal shootings by Police, Greene said there were 31 in 2002; 36 in 2003; 15 in 2004; 10 in 2005; 25 in 2006; nine in 2007; 17 in 2008; 14 in 2009 and four in 2010.
He announced that, this year, there was a decline in people being shot and killed by the Police and, after the one at West Bank Demerara, the GPF has issued flyers to all ranks on patrol and they are being trained in the “minimum use of force” and the “use of firearms.”
Greene said there has been a decrease in road fatalities this year, as compared to last year and he attributed it to the use of the breathalyzer and the radar gun, which have impacted drinking and driving under the influence.
About persons making reports to the Police in all divisions, he reminded ranks that they should take the statements, once a person visits the station and act in spite of where the crime has been committed.
Greene said no one should be turned away and Police ranks must desist from making statements about people’s private lives and do their job.
Citing an example, he spoke of a woman going to a Police station, sometime ago, to report that her car was taken away by a man and a policeman told her to go and look for him herself.