Written by Leroy Smith
WITH his eyes flooded with tears of accomplishment and his voice sending a joyous tone, Leroy Fitzpatrick Brumell recalled that it was some 36 years ago when he took the oath to serve and protect with the ambition of one day becoming Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force.

October 10 saw the fulfilment of that dream, when His Excellency President Donald Ramotar swore him in as Guyana’s commissioner of police (CoP) after he had acted in that position for approximately two years.

CoP Brumell, addressing the gathering at the Office of the President, said, “Today that dream has become a reality. It has been a long, hard road that I have no regrets for. The Guyana Police Force has its challenges, and that is no secret.”
The police commissioner also thanked his wife, two sons and a daughter, as well as the administration of the Guyana Police Force, for the support he had been given, and said he expects their continued support.  He also expressed gratitude to the President of Guyana and the Opposition

Leader for having the confidence in him, thus clearing the way for him to be confirmed commissioner of police.
Brumell solemnly pledged to do all within his powers to serve and protect  Guyanese citizens, and to take back the streets and communities from criminals.
“I recommit to the citizens living between our borders that I, Leroy Brumell, will do all within my powers, in consultation with key stakeholders, to serve and protect (them) and to take back our streets and communities from criminals,” the CoP said.
Commissioner Brumell said no man is an island, and, as such, he asked the Guyanese people to support him. He told the room, filled with mostly police top brass, that the decision to confirm him as police commissioner would not be regretted.
Brumell reminded his critics that no one can please everyone at the same time, but he promised to take criticism in a constructive manner, and work to make the Guyana Police Force a better institution.

Addressing the gathering following the swearing in yesterday, President Ramotar recalled that Commissioner Brumell assumed the helm of the Guyana Police Force in an acting capacity following the unexpected departure of his predecessor, Henry Green, from office. He pointed to the parliamentary Opposition parties’ rejection of the reform process and the Minister of Home Affairs.
President Ramotar said he was impressed with the GPF top brass’s commitment and resolve to fight crime and violence in Guyana in his most recent engagement with those officers.
He also pointed to collaboration with regional and bilateral stakeholders, which grew apace under the oversight of the Central Intelligence Committee and the Defence Board of Guyana.
President Ramotar said the administration is mindful of the challenges faced by the GPF, and he assured that the Security Sector Reform Project (SSRP), which he said would successfully impact on crime-fighting, would be implemented.
Since he started acting in the capacity of police commissioner, Leroy Brumell has been imploring policemen and women to be professional, and to be very careful of the manner with which they deal with members of the public. He has also been calling on citizens to be open with the police, and to share with the police information in the fight against crime. More recently, he has urged police commanders to hold outreaches in their divisions in an effort to garner information on what issues are affecting the people, and how those issues could be addressed.
His call came after an initiative of Assistant Police Commissioner Eric Bassant in Region Three, an outreach, which turned out to be very successful and saw the community commending the police on the move.
Brumell said his first set of priorities as commissioner of police would be the operational development of ranks, creating partnerships with communities, and developing infrastructure, all of which come under the modernisation process.