ONE-HUNDRED-AND-FORTY ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) recently completed capacity-building training courses geared at improving their professionalism on the job.

Participants for the various training exercises were drawn from the seven divisional branches across the country.

At the closing ceremony held at the GPF Officers’ Training Centre, Assistant Commissioner and Force Training Officer, Clifton Hicken, described the graduates as the future of the force.

The assistant commissioner said the capacity-building exercise would ensure the officers bring a higher level of professionalism to their job.

“It is necessary as the environment demands a change in attitude, we identify courses that are necessary to develop capacity within the Guyana Police Force… therefore when we are building capacity as the Guyana Police Force, it is not per section or division, we are doing it across the spectrum,” the assistant commissioner said.

With the skills and knowledge garnered from the various training courses, the assistant commissioner said the focus will be on building bridges with members of the public. However, for that to be achieved, it was highlighted that the capacity-building programmes would have to be ongoing.

“For us to achieve our objective as an organisation, these courses will have to be continuous. We are anticipating that by the end of the year, we see evidence of this new phenomenon in other divisions and branches resulting in positive interactions between members of the public and officers of the Force, stemming from this type of training,” he said.