Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
SWAT unit will tackle more criminals
– Police official
The success of the police Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) unit in yesterday morning’s operation which saw the dismantling of a major criminal gang has buoyed the administration of the Guyana Police Force, so much so that one senior official has assured that the team will be deployed for similar operations in the future.
The specially-trained unit went into action for the first time early yesterday morning, surrounding a house at Craig, East Bank Demerara, where the gang was holed up and despite an exchange of gunfire, only one fatality was recorded.
In addition to the one fatality, however, two persons, including a SWAT team member, were wounded.
Hours after the incident Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud, accompanied by Divisional Commander Assistant Commissioner Clifton Hicken and Crime Chief Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum visited the wounded Constable and offered him words of comfort and encouragement.
Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud (left), Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum (centre) and Divisional Commander Clifton Hicken visit the wounded policeman.
The SWAT team is made up of ranks drawn mainly from the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) who underwent intense training under highly skilled trainers from the United States of America.
The idea to establish the unit came at a time when Guyana was at the end of a debilitating crime wave, and there was a desperate need to ensure that there was an effective police unit to respond to violent crime.
Senior police officials are elated with the work that the unit carried out yesterday morning, especially given the fact that they were operating in darkness.
“It was the first time that they were deployed into that type of operation. They have been in other situations but not like this one, and yes, they handled it very well,” one top police official told this newspaper.
The assessment comes against the backdrop of previous observations from several quarters that a SWAT unit was not necessary for this society.
One such critic, former commissioner of police, now Minister in the coalition government, Winston Felix had argued in 2013, prior to the setting up of the unit, that a SWAT team would be a good idea once the circumstances in the country justify its formation.
However, he had noted that such a team is useful to engage hostage-type situations, and armed and violent criminals, though the TSU has successfully done this type of intervention over the years.
According to Felix, a SWAT team is not a heavily-armed daily patrol group and should not be used as such. He said though that once formed, the SWAT team should be carefully managed and not allowed to become indisciplined like other previous police special units.
President David Granger had also expressed reservations about the unit when he was Opposition Leader. Granger had said that there is no need for a (SWAT) unit and that more attention should be placed on issues affecting the force including proper investigations, the Force being brought up to strength, and the availability of resources such as aircraft and All-Terrain Vehicles to ranks so that they can adequately patrol the interior regions.
Even at a recent emergency meeting he convened last week to address the crime situation, no mention was made of utilizing the SWAT team.
However, another senior police official defended the existence of the unit, pointing out that, “we need them not only for high risk situations…they are adequately utilized in training other anti-crime units in the force.”
“They are not idle. We realised that we had to get them occupied…and it is clear that we will use them for other similar missions,” the officer declared. He explained that because of what is taking place now in the society, with the changing nature of crime, the SWAT team will have to adapt and evolve into a group that is in tune with what is occurring in their environment.
The officer also noted that at least there is no evidence to suggest that the unit has been compromised.
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