Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell retires

Mar 29, 2014 News

– urges successor to listen to ranks, regain public trust

By Latoya Giles
With just three days left in office, Police Commissioner, Leroy Brumell was yesterday honoured with an official passing out parade and urged that new Top Cop Seelall Persaud uphold the noble profession, listen to his ranks, and help regain the public’s trust.
Commissioner Brumell made the comment yesterday during his last public speech as Top Cop at the Eve Leary Sports Ground.
The event was attended by Head of State, President Donald Ramotar; Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee; Army Chief Mark Phillips; and US Ambassador D Brent Hardt, among hundreds of supporters and well wishers.

Police Commissioner Leroy Brumell inspecting the parade.

Brumell arrived with his family at the police sports ground to resounding applause.
He received the special salute before inspecting the hundreds of ranks from the various divisions and departments.
In his presentation, Brumell urged that ranks must strive to regain the trust of the same people they promised to protect and serve: law abiding citizens.
The Commissioner asserted that no longer are officers respected or trusted, nor do they wear the uniform with pride.
“We have to strive to restore the image of the force,” Brumell said, as he addressed a jubilant crowd.
Brumell described his tenure as Commissioner as “a true honor”. He said that the job came with gaining new friendships and also losing some too.
Brumell alluded to the fact that the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team will be the new breed to maintain law and order in society and urged them to be the shining example while trying to regain the trust.
Meanwhile, he advised the incoming Commissioner of Police, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud, to listen to the needs of his ranks and do all in his power to meet those in need.
He also urged ranks to give him full support as he takes up the mantle.
Brumell said that while there has been progress, training remains critical for the force.
He spoke of the need for increased training of ranks in the areas of Crowd and Crisis Control so as to not have a repeat of the Linden standoff that left three dead.
Brumell said that police officers should be “thinkers”, and protect and serve law abiding citizens, but must also ‘drive fear’ into the hearts of criminal elements that are bent on disturbing the society.
He said that he had observed a spike in domestic violence cases and developed a zero tolerance stance in that area. He stressed that more needs to be done by the police.
Brumell observed too that the force has made several technological advances such as the recently acquired Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) which is already bearing fruit.
He said that these advances will surely boost the work of the police force in future.
He reminded the incoming Top Cop that although the job was good, some of the decisions which are made might not be widely accepted by everyone.
The Commissioner warned his successor that the Top Cop office is a lonely and time consuming one.
Brumell served the force for 36 years and of that he was Commissioner for the last two and a half.
Brumell was born on February 8, 1959 at Herstelling. He received his primary and secondary education at the St .Theresa’s Primary and the Covent Garden Secondary School, respectively. He enlisted into the Guyana Police Force on November 9, 1977. While in the force he pursued studies in foundation in accountancy at the Government Technical Institute.
He achieved his first promotion to the rank of corporal in 1982. In 1985 he was again promoted to Sergeant acting. In that same year Brumell enlisted into the cadet officer’s course.
In 1986 he gained the rank of Assistant Superintendent then in 1991 he was again promoted to Deputy Superintendent.
In 2005 Brumell went to the rank Assistant Commissioner and then in 2011 as Commissioner acting. Brumell was confirmed as Police Commissioner in October 2013.