“I learnt my purpose when I joined the Force”

Jul 21, 2014 News

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– Retired Senior Superintendent of Police Owen Trotz, reflects on his career and life

 

By Enid Joaquin

“A person has to first of all know their purpose, and I learnt my purpose when I joined the Guyana Police Force, I knew that I was working for the state, and getting paid through the government of the day and I was the servant of the people.

“And if you’re the servant of the people- getting paid through tax payers’ money, you’re not their masters, and if you’re not there masters, you’re there to serve- whether in a rich community or a poor community, you’re there to serve everybody equally.”

That is the mantra that recently retired Senior Superintendent of Police Owen Trotz has lived by throughout his 35-plus years of service to the Guyana Police Force and the citizens of this country.

Trotz was given a grand send off at the Mackenzie Sports club Ground on Friday afternoon. The event was attended by key stakeholders in the town of Linden, and senior functionaries of the Guyana Police Force, among other special invitees.

His impeccable service, integrity and commitment to the Force were commended by all, who, while wishing him well in the future, expressed regrets at his departure.

In alluding to the event, Trotz said that in the 175 years of the Police Force history, a commander was never sent off in the Town he worked, it was always done at Eve Leary, Brickdam.

“The people in the town could not go to Eve Leary, so I brought Eve Leary to Linden, so the people could see everything- I requested that the function be held here.”

In reflecting on his short tenure at Linden, Trotz said that serving the community has helped to change his initial negative perception.

“Linden people are very friendly; before coming here I had my own ideas and so on, based on the stuff that was peddled about the Town, but actually meeting and interacting with the residents, changed any negative perception, I might have harbored.”

Trotz spoke with pride of the recently-formed Victory Valley project, where persons from other communities want to ‘come and join’. He noted that people are very excited about the project, which he said is a great achievement for the police, who at one time could not go into Victory Valley, because of the negative perception held by the residents.

 

Beautification

On a recent visit to the Mackenzie Police station compound, Trotz proudly showed off the garden he planted outside the residence he occupied, and the landscaping, including the digging of drains, and filling of pot holes in the driveway leading to the station.

But holding pride of place in his heart is the garden that he planted at the roundabout in front of the station compound.

“I’m a little sad to go leave it, but I’ve been given the assurance by one resident of the community. Mr. Victor Wright, that he will upkeep the garden.

That was confirmed by Wright himself, who, impressed with the commander’s efforts at beautification, also started a garden on a little plot outside his residence. Wright, who was loud in praise of the commander, also expressed the hope that Trotz’s successor would emulate a lot of what he had done.

“We’re hoping and praying that we could get someone that can really fill the hole that Commander Trotz is going to leave.”

Trotz and a team of Police were also recently involved in a cleanup effort organized by LIRA- an overseas based organization. During the exercise the Linden Riverfront, which was overrun with garbage and bush was cleared.

 

Enlisting

March 1, 1979 was a historical day for young Owen trotz. It was the day that he left his home at Leguan to join the Guyana Police Force, where he entered training school.

He would leave training school and beat duty, in the latter part of 1979,and in early 1980,be posted to D-Division where he worked in the general duties section among the Leonora, Vreed-en-Hoop and Wales Police Stations. He also served as the court orderly at Vreed-en-Hoop police station during that period.

In 1983, he joined the traffic department, working at all the stations in D-Division. He was in charge of traffic at all stations within that division with the exception of Den Amstel police station.

He also became traffic inspector of that Division.

In 2001, he was transferred to Georgetown and worked traffic at Police Headquarters, Brickdam, East La Penitence and the highway base, and was subsequently deemed second in-charge of traffic- A-Division.

After serving seven plus years in that division he was in May, 2008 transferred to ‘B’ Division as the traffic officer where he worked until 2010. He was later posted to the transport workshop by the late Commissioner Henry Greene as the transport officer. Later that year, Trotz was posted to F-Division as officer in charge of number 3 Subdivision-Lethem.

By 2011 Trotz was posted to E&F   Headquarters, Eve Leary as second in command, then later posted to C-Division, East coast, as Second in Command and subsequently Commander until January 2013, when E-Division was separated from ‘F’ Division, and he was posted as the commander of ‘E’ Division.

Reflecting on his career in the Guyana Police Force, at his passing out parade in Linden, on Friday, Trotz said, “My journey with the Guyana Police Force was significantly enhanced with the experience and qualifications I obtained from the Government Technical Institute, the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education and the University of Guyana. It was at the latter Institution that I obtained a Diploma in Security Management. A rank’s tertiary education is very important for upward movement in this noble profession.

“It is with this in mind that I encourage you, the junior ranks to learn the work and to act with dignity and to seize the opportunity to qualify yourselves professionally and academically by attending the University of Guyana, especially at this time, when the police Force is in its modernization phase.”

Trotz added that the evidence of such modernization, which is headed by Commissioner Seelall Persaud, is seen in all police divisions, where there are youth clubs, scout groups and community projects.

He exhorted, “I’m encouraging citizens to see the Police as your friend and not your enemy. They are the products of your community; they did not come from another planet.”

To those that are looking forward to a career in the police force, he admonished: “The police force is a lifelong profession. It is a serious job. You have to act professionally at all times, be courteous, and you must know your purpose- which is to protect and serve. You also have to build on education.

 

Would do it again

In retrospect, Commander Owen Trotz, said that he would ‘do it all over again’ if he had to live his live over.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my tenure in the police force, with the challenges and everything, so I would definitely do it again.”

Trotz was the husband of the late Indranie Trotz, and father of Mark and the late Trevor Trotz. He is the grandfather of three-a new dispensation he thoroughly enjoys!

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