Change attitudes to embrace civilians in your midst - Rohee tells Police Officers

Change attitudes to embrace civilians in your midst – Rohee tells Police Officers

Mar 22, 2013 News

By Dale Andrews
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee has called for attitudinal changes within the Guyana Police Force to accommodate the employment of 10 civilians within the midst of the senior management of the organization.
He was referring to imminent employment of the civilians as counterparts at the Senior Levels of the Force to facilitate the smooth and effective implementation of the Force’s Strategic Plans.

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee interacts with the Retired Police Deputy Superintendent Ingrid Wiltshire.

His call comes amidst mixed reactions within the Guyana Police Force following the initial announcement made on December 31, 2012, when the Minister outlined his long term security plans.
Last Thursday, the Minister repeated the plan to employ the civilians while addressing officers at the Police Officers’ Conference, pointing out that having civilians employed in their midst is another critical aspect of the reform process of the Force.
“Historically, except for instances when civilian specialists in the Finance Department and a few other areas along with barrack (room) labourers were employed by the Force, all employees of the Guyana Police Force have been generally sworn Ranks.
“This matter is so critical that there is no window of opportunity for any experiment to be undertaken at this time by anyone,” Rohee stated.
According to him, it would therefore be necessary for the management of the Guyana Police Force to take deliberate steps to ensure that the 10 persons are given the space to function within the terms of reference of their employment and for the Guyana Police Force to be receptive to the circumstances under which these civilians are to be engaged.
“It is not unusual for civilians to be employed by modern day Police Forces.
Internationally, it has been accepted that it is better in some instances to employ civilian specialists to satisfy specific requirements of the Police Forces,” the Minister explained.
While the Force has widely embraced the concept, there is still some skepticism, especially among the middle and lower level of the Guyana Police Force.
Ever since the December announcement, there has been a lot of talk within the force about the civilian component.
“We are subject to certain rules within the Force while they (civilians) will not. Civilians come with a civilian mentality, while policemen have a police mentality. It will be a bit challenging but we are open to it,” one middle level rank told this newspaper.
Within recent times the relationship between civilians and the police has been strained, a situation that stems from distrust for the law enforcement officers.
A senior police rank explained that the civilians will not be involved in the day to day management of the Force. Rather they will only guide officers who are not versed in certain aspects of management.
“The police should not see the civilians as coming to take over their work. What the Minister is trying to do is to create an environment that would allow for a harmonious working relationship between the police and the civilians,” the officer stated.
He however noted that there will be some areas that may cause some discontentment.
“Civilians getting more money for the same work,” he explained.
“The civilians also have to understand that they are in a different environment,” he advised.
According to Minister Rohee, the Guyana Police Force has embarked on an exciting course at this phase of its history.
“I urge you to embrace the changes that will and must come in the Force.
We are all living in a dynamic world and we must respond to the changes that are taking place around us,” he said.
Kaieteur News understands that the civilian engagement within the Force may not be for more than three years.