COMMISSIONER of Police, Leroy Brumell has called for continuing vigilance to ensure that Guyana never allows its citizenry to return to the 2002 to 2008 period when fear plagued the land and the police were targeted by criminals.

The commissioner yesterday morning was addressing senior police ranks, relatives and colleagues of police officers who died in the line of duty from 1913 to 2013.
Brumell reminded that when many of the police ranks who are serving now joined the organisation they never thought that policemen and women would become targets. He said that what happened in 2002 and 2008 had thrown the country into a fear and one that no Guyanese would ever again want to endure.
The event was the annual wreath-laying ceremony for fallen heroes which was held at the monument for fallen heroes, Police Officers Mess compound, Eve Leary. The event is also part of the activities to mark the 174th anniversary of the Guyana Police Force.
The commissioner pointed out that the lives which were lost had made members of the Guyana Police Force and by extension the Joint Service as a whole, even more security conscious as they continue to uphold law and order in this country.
According to Brumell, for the Guyana Police Force to lose 60 ranks between 1913 and 2013 is not something easy, especially when those lives were lost in the line of duty. He assured that the Guyana Police Force will continue to sympathise with the relatives and loved ones of those who have fallen, as he expressed understanding of how traumatic it is for those relatives to go through the experience of remembering those who have been killed.
Guyana, however, has a duty to continue paying its respect to those who have died and as long as the Guyana Police Force remains in existence, the tradition will continue.
The Commissioner of Police pointed out that while several ranks have lost their lives in the line of duty, there were also dozens who were seriously injured while fighting to serve and protect the citizenry.
Many of those killed were doing their utmost to ensure that justice prevailed but while the lives cannot be restored, the Guyana Police Force will continue to share the bereavement of the relatives and loved ones for those who have passed, the commissioner added.
Also speaking at yesterday’s event was Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee who represented the Government of Guyana. Minister Rohee, following up the comments of Police Commissioner Brumell with respect to the number of fallen police ranks, suggested that more attention needs to be paid to police constables and corporals.

HIGHEST CASUALTIES
The minister said that what is evident from the list of the 60 fallen police officers is that constables and corporals were the two highest cases of casualties and that brings several matters to the fore.
According to Rohee, the number of ranks killed in the line of duty and their rankings show that there is a certain category of police officers who will always be  most exposed to danger.
This, he said, tells him that this category is the one that requires greater attention from the leadership of the Guyana Police Force and by extension the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Those who die in the line of duty while serving their country to ensure that others live happily and in prosperity must be recognised by those who are alive and still grieve, the minister added.
In being realistic, Minister Rohee observed that law enforcement in any part of the world will forever be targeted and in Guyana there is no exception.

TARGET CRIMINALS
But the reality is, according to the minister, that just as law enforcement is targeted, so too must be the criminals. The same way the police are targeted, the criminals must be targeted also by the police since criminals constitute a very small percentage of the population that create havoc and terror.
Minister Rohee told the gathering yesterday morning that if they want to live in happiness and prosperity, then one single iota of terror or mayhem should not be condoned and those who seek to deprive others of life, limb and property must be brought to justice.
Meanwhile, he expressed gratitude on the government’s behalf to those who have died in the line of duty while pointing out that to die while serving one’s country in whatever capacity is a noble and honoured cause.
Among those laying wreaths yesterday morning for the fallen were Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, Commissioner of Police, Leroy Brumell, divisional commanders and relatives of the fallen officers.
Among the relatives laying wreaths were the mother and brother of murdered Police Constables, Ledon Aaron and Marlon Letlow who lost their lives in 2012 at an interior location and a relative of Corporal Romain Cleto who was shot and killed on Avenue of the Republic earlier this year.
The activity yesterday also featured the marching on of a parade, the arrival of the Commissioner of Police and Home Affairs Minister respectively, two minutes of silence for the fallen, 21-gun salutes and words of comfort offered by Assistant  Commissioner of Police, Eric Bassant and the singing of hymns.