AN estimated 1,200 ranks will be sent to the streets by the end of the year, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud announced yesterday. The large batch of officers is outside of the usual deployment of additional ranks during the Christmas period.
He made the comment during his feature address at the passing out of recruits who recently completed a six- month training course. He also commended the Force Training Officer Senior Superintendent Paul Williams and other members of the Guyana Police Force Training School who worked tirelessly with the young people.
During his address, the Commissioner congratulated the ranks for successfully completing the training while alerting them that the public expects much from them.
“You are now at the launch of your career, a career that can see you to the age of 65. Don’t throw it away by forgetting or not applying the laws, regulations and procedures as well as tactics that you would have learnt and most importantly, do not forget your oath of office, it is the lynchpin of your career as police officers,” Persaud told the recruits.
Keeping the members of the public safer remains the job of police officers, Persaud reminded them, while cautioning that there is no need for anxiety but rather confidence since the history of the Force has shown the need for constant adaptation and resilience to challenges.
Persaud encouraged the Force’s newest members to seek after knowledge and understand that there is no virtue in ignorance: and as such police ranks ought to develop themselves as it will take them through their careers.
Those who live in communities which the police are expected to serve after they are posted, will expect that police ranks protect them from those who mean to bring them harm, while the general expectation is for police ranks to be role models to the children in communities.
The Guyana Police force has been investing tremendously in the training of young police ranks over the years and continues to engage its senior ranks in capacity- building, all aimed at increasing the efficacy of the Guyana Police Force.