Linden Commission of Inquiry…Head of riot unit sees need for ‘softer hand’

Oct 30, 2012 News

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…tactical errors were made on July 18

There is need for the Police to exercise a “softer hand” in dealing with cases of public disorder, and for the Standing Operating Procedures of the riot squad to be reviewed, Senior Superintendent Lyndon Alves said yesterday.
Alves is the officer in command of Tactical Services Unit (TSU), which is called into action in cases of riot and unruly protests.  A half-unit from the TSU was sent to Linden on July 18, last, when a planned five-day protest

was scheduled to begin. That unit was withdrawn when there were reports that protestors were killed and another half-unit was deployed to the town.
Testifying before the Linden Commission of Inquiry yesterday, Alves said that he believed that on July 18, tactical errors were made.
He said that there is a need to review the Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) governing the issuance of firearms to ranks who are being deployed from the TSU. He said that he believes that units could be deployed more with batons and shields, because the presence of a heavily armed “military type unit” can agitate a crowd.
In addition, Alves said that the wording on the banner the TSU holds up to protestors should be changed, because the “remove or we will fire” approach can also make protestors uneasy. He would prefer the word “fire” to be removed.
In addition, Alves said that he would recommend increased human rights training for the Police.
As the head of the TSU, Alves said that he never had a hand in determining how many ranks of the TSU to send to Linden. He said that decision was made by Police Commissioner (ag) Leroy Brumell.
In his testimony given to the Commission, Senior Superintendent Clifton Hicken had testified that the half-unit that was sent to Linden in the first instance did not maintain a static presence at the volatile area of the Linden/Wismar Bridge.
Alves said that when the TSU unit was called to the Mackenzie Police Station by Hicken upon instructions from the Commissioner of Police, the crowd swelled.
He said it would have been the better approach to have the unit at the site, controlling the bridge and preventing persons from loitering, blocking the bridge, or holding a public meeting. In addition, he said it would have been best if Hicken, who was the most senior Police officer in Linden, would have stayed on the ground as long as was humanly possible.
Alves said that when the TSU unit commander, Assistant Superintendent Patrick Todd informed him that he was given instructions to clear the bridge, he urged Todd to observe the standing operating procedures.
However, Alves said he was not in command of the unit; rather, the commanding officer on the ground was Hicken, who was in charge of the E&F Policing Division under which Linden falls.
Asked then, why he felt the need to talk to Todd, Alves said he was merely offering advice, not commanding the unit.
About 19:30 on July 18, Alves said he was called to a meeting of senior officers that included the Police Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner, Seelall Persaud. At that meeting, Alves said he learnt of unconfirmed reports of protestors being killed and others injured.
Alves said he was instructed to have the first TSU half-unit recalled to Georgetown and for another half-unit to be sent to the town.
The following morning, Alves said that he instructed that a check be made of the arms and ammunition that were returned by the first half-unit. He testified that four officers returned less ammunition than what they left with.
Alves testified that while a person was assigned to take written notes of the operations of the half-units sent to Linden, there were no notes regarding when the Police opened fired nor were there records of those who died or were injured.
In previous testimony to the Commission, it was established that the bullets which were extracted from the Linden dead were copper-coated 00 buck shots.
Alves said that the buck shots, which are issued to licensed firearm holders for the purpose of hunting, are held at the TSU Arms Stores.
He said that he trained persons in the use of arms using the OO buck shots for ten years up until 2002, when Assistant Superintendent Patrick Todd took over that role. Another officer currently does that training.
Alves said that for the deployment in Linden No.6 cartridges were issued.
Asked by Commissioner KD Knight when last buck shots were issued, Alves could not remember. Commissioner Knight pointed to records which showed that such ammunition was issued as recent as July 13 and July 19.
Alves explained that if a licensed firearm holder wishes to have buck shots, he would go to the Police Divisional Office and make a request for a permit to acquire the ammunition.
With the permit, the civilian goes to a dealer of his choice and pays for the ammunition.
With the receipt of payment, he goes to the TSU arms store and is issued with the ammunition. Alves said that a record is made in the “Dealers” book of the ammunition leaving the stores room.
Alves said that in his 20 years with the TSU, there has never been a case where the Police ran out of ammunition and had to use the OO buck shots from the civilian storage.
He further testified that ranks of the TSU are given refresher courses twice a year in the use of firearms.

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