– The Top Cop’s appeal

A ‘Top Cop’, for the first time to my knowledge, has insisted on revolutionising the intake to the police force towards a more responsible output. This officer argues, rightly, that a functional ability to be literate enables independent research, assessment of situations outside of pure emotional impulse actions, which in itself may very well be breaking the law. This is inspiring based on the references in both the Stabroek and Chronicle newspapers on Sunday 31, October, last. But there should be a primary module on Joint Service operations and the modus operandi of functionaries across the rank echelons. This can fit into schools and be made attractive to children as an edutainment feature. The commissioner acting has opened the door, but all was not said, though I do feel he took it far enough. I will recommend, based on evidence and experience, that a mental health format be added, because this grey area can slip through passing exams, and the police force like any other organisation of mass humanity, will attract the full human complement, except that with the police force, such persons of questionable mental health will be allowed to carry combat weapons and use that weapon as imagined fit. I can apply such an experience as a case study.

I was living with my great Aunt in West Ruimveldt when a confrontation between herself and her reputed husband drew me in. Threats were made on both sides, unknowingly a neighbour made a report to the West outpost. While still arguing, a trio group of policemen came. This particular leading OC held a 38 revolver in his hand. In the thin strip, I was the first person he arrived at, and the weapon was pointed to. Someone at the back of the growing crowd shouted, “is not he,” he said, “get out of the way.” In passing, I noticed that his finger was at a level uncalled for. I said “nobody is posing a threat officer, you could relax the weapon, this is a domestic issue.” One of the two ranks quietly asked me what was going on, and I explained to him; he moved up to the obvious OC and they relaxed and escorted my aunt’s reputed husband away. This man never holstered the weapon. The next thing I heard about this policeman after knowing of other unsavoury acts, is that he was thrown out of the force and was shot by another policeman (who would emerge to be notorious) in the village of Plaisance where he came from, while hiding in a fowl pen. I didn’t get the details for this action , except that the Joint service member who told me this concluded “duh banna was a mad man yuh know, he had mental problems.” The notorious policeman according to a male model I used for an art reference who was in the force was the rank who prepared the statements and reports for this notorious killer cop. My model got a visa and never looked back.

Solomon Blackman should still be fresh in our memory. This 2004 incident was a clear case of mental illness. He took two lives on entering Brickdam police station, seizing the sentry’s firearm and proceeded on his killing outrage. What was surprising is that he was apprehended and not shot. There are other examples like this that can be referenced.

The current appeal by the acting commissioner is a positive approach that would shift the GPF away from a dark lethal custom of practice that was exploited by corrupt persons with means in this country. No doubt kept alive by an older generation from that past, who are still in the force. Thus, it would also be necessary to upgrade the entrance test as a holistic approach to healing in the effort to evolve that institution to the significance of the real social and legal purpose it should impact on.

We were a British colony and though their official police force was established in the 1830s under Sir Robert Peel’s Police Bill, by the 1850s they dropped recruitment of unskilled labourers and insisted that an education was regarded as necessary, and by the 1890s they boasted that great strides had been made in scientific detection of crime, and these were filtering down to some men on the beat; see “Rule Britannia the Victorian World.” We’re over a 100 years late towards that full realisation, but should the acting commissioner’s (why so many actors?) proposal be taken seriously. We can evolve over an era of darkness that seems to be slowly reappearing, enhance our national ethics and prepare for the grim future indicated by the South African neuroscientist and founder of the Brain Mind Institute, Henry Markram, at the EPFL in Switzerland concerning funding; “we need around $1billion. This is not expensive when one considers that the global burden of brain disease will exceed 20 percent of world GDP very soon” with a social menu locally; of mind-altering drugs, poverty, stress and global economic changes impacting on us, we need an enhanced Police Force.