THE Guyana Police Force (GPF), in a statement, said the ranks who responded to the scene of the recent fatal shooting, at the home of Deryck Kanhai in Middle Street, Georgetown, followed the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

As such, their actions were in line as it relates to their protective gear in that incident.
“There was no sharing of body armour as alleged since additional body armour was acquired and distributed to ranks on the ground. Also, there was no sharing or exchange of arms and ammunition at the scene as such action is in breach of the Standard Operating Procedures as it relates to the uplifting of arms and ammunition by ranks,” the GPF said on Thursday.
The statement said the GPF wishes to clarify that all ranks deployed in the immediate area of operation were fitted with body protective gear.
“Some ranks, who were more involved in the outer cordon were not so fitted and were, however, relatively safe in view of distance and having more physical protection available,” the statement insisted.
It continued:”Last November 12, at Middle Street, Georgetown, the initial report received by the police was that there was a robbery at the Balwant Singh Hospital and someone had been shot.

ANOTHER REPORT
“Subsequently, another report was received that a man was walking down Middle Street and shooting at members of the public with a shotgun,” the Police said.
The GPF statement noted that, having heard the report through the radio network, Constable 18053 Sherwayne Pantlitz, along with two other ranks, who were on anti-crime patrol on motorcycles and all fitted with body protective gear, responded.
However, by that time Kanhai had retreated into a building where he resided and police reinforcements, which included the Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner George Vyphuis and a number of other officers, arrived on the scene.
The narrative continued:”A command centre was set up and cordons were established with clear consideration for public safety.
“It was a major task to divert traffic and control the large number of members of the public who had converged on the scene, instead of moving to areas of safety, while simultaneously concentrating on neutralising the threat posed by Kanhai.

HUMAN BARRIER
“Senior officers continually engaged persons in the crowd urging them to remove to more safe distances, but they were, generally, non-cooperative and defiantly refused to move. Before metal barriers were sent for and placed at strategic points, police ranks were forced to hold hands and form a human barrier.”
The GPF stated that “our history is replete with incidents of crowds converging at various scenes and, despite efforts by law enforcement officials to have them remove, they do not.”
“When persons do so, they remain there at their own risk.”
During efforts to make contact with Kanhai, Constable Pantlitz was shot and killed, police said, referring to the Middle Street occurrence.
The police said that two more ranks on motorcycles joined the others and they made valiant efforts to control the converging crowd of persons and to divert traffic.
Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell told reporters, last week, that policemen, who were part of the combat on Middle Street last month with berserk businessman Deryck Kanhai were not all dispatched from the GPF Headquarters.
He pointed out that many of the ranks were on the road performing other duties and had been on their own business when they turned up at the Middle Street battlefield to support the work of other ranks who had responded to the situation.

PROPERLY FITTED
Brumell said all ranks sent to the scene from Force Headquarters were properly fitted with their safety gear and ready for combat.
He said there were ranks who had been on their way home and showed up while others, in their haste to get to the scene and help bring things under control, were the ones without the protective gear.
Asked if the situation would be different should there be a similar encounter in the city or elsewhere, the Commissioner replied that the matter is being addressed.
But once ranks are on the ground, the necessary resources and equipment will be provided them to aid in their work.
He said the issue of persons just rushing to the scene undocumented and having resources and materials issued to them on the ground, without any proper form of accountability process, is not necessarily going to be a priority for the Force but the options are open and judgment will be exercised in cases like that.
On that dreadful day on Middle Street, two policemen lost their lives while combating a berserk businessman who opened fire indiscriminately killing two civilians in the process before he was shot.
A total of five persons were killed that day.