Commissioner warns against breaches of command discipline after roadside incident

May 11, 2026 News

Kaieteur News – Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken has issued a stern warning on command discipline and operational conduct following a roadside incident in which a senior police office allegedly intervened in a lawful anti-crime operation involving junior ranks.

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Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken

The commissioner confirmed that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has been directed to investigate the actions of Deputy Commissioner and Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Head Fizal Karimbaksh after body-worn camera footage reportedly showed that the ranks conducting the operation acted lawfully and in accordance with standard procedures.

Addressing the matter during police “round-up” programme, Commissioner Hicken expressed concern over the senior officer’s decision to intervene in a field operation without verifying the facts. “This intervention is concerning because it appears to have been made without verification and outside the chain of command,” Hicken stated. He emphasised that while senior officers possess the authority to oversee operations, all interventions must be grounded in situational awareness and adhere strictly to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

The incident was triggered when a female motorist, claiming to be a police officer, was stopped during an anti-crime exercise. The woman contacted the deputy commissioner, who then used her phone to reprimand the corporal on duty, ordering him to “abandon” his duties and “let her go.”

Commissioner Hicken also pointed to body-worn camera footage as the definitive evidence that cleared the junior ranks. “I’m happy that I’m having a chance to address this in its most constructive way,” Hicken noted. “The footage… confirmed that the stop was lawful, professional, and compliant with operational procedures.” Hicken highlighted that the Guyana Police Force has deployed over 5,300 body cameras nationwide to ensure transparency and protect officers from “assumptions” or improper use of authority.

The commissioner linked the incident to the broader Guyana Police Force Strategic Plan 2022-2026, which prioritises professionalism and accountability.He revealed that the force is moving toward a fully digitised reporting system within the next few months to eliminate the “paper days” and ensure accurate, verifiable records of all police interactions.

“Technology is what is ruling the world,” Hicken said. “It is now central to modern policing in the Guyana Police Force… We are digitising the force as we speak.”

The OPR has been mandated to examine the entirety of the interaction, including the initial stop and the subsequent interference by the senior officer. Commissioner Hicken’s directive sends a clear message: no rank, regardless of seniority, is above the established framework of discipline.

“Any interference with lawful duties outside the established standard operation procedures will be addressed within the framework,” Hicken concluded. “The law will prevail.”

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Clifton Hicken, Fizal KarimBaksh, Guyana Police Force, Office of Professional Responsibility, Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU)

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