Assistant Commissioner Hicken to head GPF operations unit

…Maxine Graham proceeds on pre-retirement leave

Deputy Police Commissioner, Maxine Graham was on Monday sent on pre-retirement leave. As a result, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken will head operations of the Guyana Police Force.

Graham will attain retirement status in December 2020 but has over 170 days leave. She reportedly joined the force on March 9, 1987.
Hicken, who will take over from Graham, is known for his dynamic style of management and will undoubtedly provide the necessary support to acting Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie.
Hicken was seconded to the Department of Citizenship in 2019 by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC). Hicken was also quite popular during his reign as Commander of A and B Divisions and as such had tremendous public support.
A few days ago, former Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had stated that he was unaware of the reason for Commissioner of Police Leslie James and Deputy Commissioner of Police Maxine Graham still being on the job, claiming that they should have also been on pre-retirement leave.
The accumulated days for the two senior ranks reportedly amounted to over 500 days.
James was appointed Commissioner of Police back in August 2018 along with four Deputy Commissioners of Police in the persons of Lyndon Alves, Maxine Graham, Nigel Hoppie, and Paul Williams. Alves was sent off the job in the public’s interest in 2019.

However, James has subsequently proceeded on pre-retirement leave and as such, Deputy Commissioner Nigel Hoppie has taken charge of the force with immediate effect.
Nevertheless, Deputy Commissioner Graham joined the force at the age of 21 and has provided exemplary service to the agency for 33 years.
She has worked in a number of assignments throughout her career with the Guyana Police. She has been an instructor at Felix Austin Police College, a Court Prosecutor for ten years, and the Court Superintendent for ten courts in Central Georgetown.
In her current position, Snr Supt. Graham is the only senior female officer who represents and acts as a mediator between female ranks and the senior management of the Guyana Police Force. She also served as liaison officer for the Guyana Police Force Fallen Heroes Fund Inc.
Another one of her many responsibilities is serving as Officer-in-Charge of selection, recruitment, and human resources management for the ranks from Constables to Sergeants.
Graham has a Degree in Law, a Diploma in Public Safety and Security Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Guyana.
She has attended a number of leadership and management training courses in Guyana and overseas, including a Special Prosecutor’s training (University of Guyana), ILEA Advanced Management and Leadership for Women in Law Enforcement (El Salvador), Senior Officers’ Course (Guyana Police Force), Leadership for Women in Law Enforcement (Peru), and Police Ethics and Leadership (US Department of State and the Ohio State Highway Patrol (USA).
For her many achievements, Graham received a Good Conduct and Long Service Medal in April from former President of Guyana, David Granger, for her dedication and commitment to the Guyana Police Force.
She was later bestowed with the Disciplined Service Medal, a national award for her service to the Force.