RE-BUILDING THE POLICE FORCE FROM WITHIN

Sep 23, 2018 AFC Column, Features / Columnists

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Quite recently the governing Coalition moved to change the leadership of the Guyana Police Force, appointing a new Commissioner of Police, naming four deputies and opening the path for promotion of officers some if whom were stagnated for more than a decade.
For those of us paying attention, the major changes in the Guyana Police Force in recent weeks were very welcome. They have sent a major message to all ranks and to society at large, signaling that this government is very serious about: 1) improving the lives and livelihoods of officers and ranks, 2) returning the image of police officers to what it used to be before the 1990’s, and 3) imbuing the current crop of policemen and women with such personal and professional integrity that even the temptation to act outside of their Code of Conduct would be unthinkable.
We are well aware of the numerous incidents that have marred the image of the entire police force, incidents that affected the relationships between law enforcement and the public. The number of complaints rose exponentially while public confidence in the Force dwindled to nearly naught. In 2015, this Government inherited a law enforcement machinery that was severely beaten down by self-serving political direction. Unfortunately, this taint covered the entire force and every policeman and woman was painted with the same brush. Everyone faced public rejection equally.
The worst of it was when citizens accused police officers of conducting criminal activities, and alleged that agents were involved in the spate of extra-judicial killings in the early 2000’s when Guyana was called the crime capital of the Caribbean.
The Police were accused of providing protection to ‘wealthy’ people who were rumoured to be operating on the other side of the law. For years their stop-and-search and roadblock exercises raised public ire. Drivers complained of being bullied for money, of being harassed, of being forced to purchase tickets for private fund raising events, and of being locked up for no or very minor infractions and traffic violations.
Unfortunately, these activities continued into this administration, but the police top brass, with the support of Government, began to work again with the laws that govern traffic policing. These laws are not new. They have been in our books for a long time.
As part of its pledge to restore public faith, Government began to re-build the force from within. Modernized systems and equipment have begun to replace battered, unusable ones, and morale-boosting training programmes are being run here and overseas, and there have a few salary increases. By itself, increased wages for the disciplined services remains at the top of the national agenda for Cabinet discussion.
Under a year ago we read about the many complaints reaching the Police Complaints Authority and the police top brass about ranks continuing to raise road blocks without proper authorization. The public was informed that they had very little cause to so do. Today, the case involving Attorney-at-Law Ryan Crawford is trending. One observer posited that Mr. Crawford’s tirade of expletives, literally a ‘cuss out’ of a working traffic rank was probably the manifestation of the mindset that the ranks on the road (notice our hesitation to label all as Traffic police) have one objective only, i.e. to make a raise. Right or wrong, there are still people who traverse the roads and highways fearful of becoming another victim of a police shakedown.
The public’s dislike for the police force was real and unhealthy – it still is in many places. Some ranks continue to do wrong things despite continuous training, having modern equipment and the use of more vehicles.
It is taking a lot more than was first imagined to convince the Guyanese citizenry that Guyana’s law enforcement is ready to serve and protect. It is taking a lot more time, public awareness and public sensitization programmes. Thankfully police ranks have begun again to participate in community activities in towns and country areas where they are stationed. They volunteer their services to plan and execute sports, educational and cultural programmes. They speak during school assemblies; they ‘gaff’ with the youngsters hanging out at road corners, and generally are more helpful to people.
It is clear to us, and to them, that they need higher wages. One rank painted this scenario for us: Imagine yourself working with the narcotics branch, taking part in raids on vehicles, homes, boats, etc. At the end of your shift your ride home is a ‘corkball’ minibus playing loud, obscene music and filled with folks who had a harder day than you. One of the passengers might be a drug smuggler who had escaped during the raid your team had conducted earlier that day. Your personal safety is put at risk as are your peace of mind and the safety of your family. Only one honest thing could solve this dilemma, he said, a better salary.
The government has its mind set on improving the quality of service that the nation’s police force could and should provide with higher wages, and with protective equipment better than the criminals have. Good leadership by serious, incorruptible men and women also plays a key role in this scenario. This had to have been a major consideration by President Granger when he chose the new Top Cop.
There is still a lot of work to be done by the Police Force and its management. Time is its best friend, but in the interim, the behaviours and deportment of male and female police officers must convince the public that the change is happening, that the era of brutishness is really over.

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