COMMISSIONER of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken, has read the proverbial ‘riot act’ to junior officers of the twelve Regional Police Divisions, during a meeting on Thursday last, at the Officers’ Training Centre on Camp Road, Georgetown.
“I am not going to ask you to do anything outside the realm or scope of your work…you will be judged based on your performance,” the Top Cop told the junior officers.
Among those he addressed were Cadet Officers, Assistant Superintendents and Deputy Superintendents, many of whom are Sub-Divisional Officers, Divisional Detective Officers, and Officers in Charge of Traffic in their respective Divisions.
The meeting follows several similar meetings that were initiated by the Top Cop the previous week when he met separately with all the Sergeants, Inspectors, and Regional Commanders in which he outlined the vision, strategic plans, and new posture in taking the Police Force forward.
Like he did previously in the other meetings, Hicken gave the junior officers a comprehensive charge and strict mandate to ‘serve and protect’ and to change the negative image and perception that members of the public have of the force.
He highlighted specific areas that they, as middle managers, can improve upon, such as professionalism, accountability and partnership.
Hicken used the forum to further remind the officers of the important roles and responsibilities as outlined in the standing orders, coupled with the implementation of the strategic pillars of the 2022-2026 strategic plan.
He told the junior officers that it was imperative for them to understand that change is necessary as the force’s administration try to create an atmosphere that will aid the improvement of service delivery to the public.
Alluding to the fact that there were gaps in the organisation, the Top Cop stated: “We’ve got to identify the gaps and we’re going to fill those gaps as a collective. I want to remind you that the chain is as strong as its weakest link, and so you’re going to complement each other in terms of knowledge and experience.”
Stating that policies will be converted into action, Hicken told the junior officers that they were going to be an integral part of the entire developmental process.
“You’re going to be part of the decision-making process at every level. It becomes qualitative because the structures implemented will be administered, hence the change starts with you,” he said.
Hicken said his vision for the force is to ensure that it is more qualitative rather than quantitative, and this will be achieved through the implementation of the strategic plan.
On this note, Hicken alluded to the force’s Strategic Plan 2022-2026, which speaks to operations, infrastructure, developing our people, performance, partnership, professionalism and accountability.
Hicken also addressed the laissez-faire attitude exhibited by the junior officers and made it clear that members of the force will be evaluated and promoted based on performance.
Further, he also reminded the junior officers that they have a responsibility to effectively police their respective sub-divisions.
However, he alluded to the fact that, in providing the service as mandated by the GPF, reports and occurrences must be followed up by giving victims a feedback on the status of the investigations.
Members of the Executive Leadership Team inclusive of Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ (ag), Mr. Calvin Brutus; Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’(ag), Mr. Ravindradat Budhram and Head of Special Branch, Senior Superintendent Errol Watts, who were also in attendance, endorsed Hicken’s ‘charge’ to the junior officers during their brief remarks.