Police in community outreach in Berbice

Apr 21, 2016 Sports

Police in Berbice over the past weeks have been intensifying their community outreach programmes through the county.
Their motto is to serve and protect and the police over the years having being trying strenuously to live up to that mantra even in the face of mounting criticism about their performance.

The Esplanade Park, Kiddies Play area which was cleaned up by the Berbice Police recently.

While all the back and forth debate has been happening on the good, bad and usefulness of the force, the Police in B division, especially those attached to the Central Police Station and the ‘B’ division headquarters, have been playing a leading role in terms of preserving and proffering a new image of the force. Led by Officer in Charge of Subdivision No1, Deputy Superintendent Guy Nurse, the B Division police over the past 12 months has taken a series of initiatives which started under former Commanders Assistant Commissioner Brian Joseph and Assistant Commissioner Christopher Griffith and have being continued by newly appointed Commander Assistant Commissioner Ian Amsterdam.
One such initiative is the forces drive to create a new image and being more interactive with members of the community, not withstanding taking care of the welfare of those within its employ.
Recently the police undertook and environmental cleanup and rehabilitation of the Esplanade Park, Kiddies Play area. The area was cleaned up and the swings and other play equipment upgraded.
After making regular visits to the area and assessing the needs to get the place back in order. The force lead by Nurse, Community relations officer of B Division, Assistant Superintendent Keith Williams and Sergeant O’Donaghue undertook the task to beautify the area which was in a bad state for a number of years.
According to Sergeant O’Donaghue the programmes are all part of the forces enhancement project which is being geared to take on a new image which is all in the quest of doing things differently in addition to strengthening the police community relationships.
So far for the year a number of initiatives have been successfully undertaken, including the reformation of police youth clubs and community groups and widening the Cops and Faith network.
While community walk abouts, visits and adoption of depress communities were also undertaken.
The exercise according to Williams was well received and will be continued. He expressed his appreciation and gratitude to those that assisted.