Following the death of a 38-year-old Police Inspector, a group of religious leaders from the Force’s Cops and Faith Network along with the Divisional Commander on Wednesday visited the officer’s grieving family.
Inspector Ian Welch of Rose Hall, Berbice, died in a vehicular accident sometime around 17:15h on Tuesday at Rattle-Snake Hill Trail Road, Central Rupununi, Lethem.
The team comprised of B Division (Berbice) Commander, Assistant Commissioner Lyndon Alves; Force Welfare Officer, Deputy Superintendent Lorraine Saul; Force Chaplain, Pastor Patrick Doolichand; and Reverend Raphael Massiah of the First
Dead Inspector Ian Welch
Assembly of God Church.
They met and consoled the bereaved mother, sister and common-law wife of the now deceased Inspector, and informed them that the Force will be lending its full support to the family in their time of turmoil.
Reverend Massiah, who is one of the founding members of the Fallen Heroes Foundation Inc, shared prayers with family members as he listened to their heartfelt remarks about Inspector Ian Welch.
According to reports, Welch along with Constable Lyzandel Northe, Corporal Fitzgerald Adolphus, Special Constable Ryan Doris and Rural Constable Chavez Francis were on patrol duty when the accident occurred.
It was reported that the ranks were on patrol duty when the vehicle, PVV 662 driven by Northe, which was proceeding along the trail, experienced a ‘blow out’ of its right rear tyre after which the driver reportedly lost control and the vehicle turned-turtle twice before coming to a halt.
Inspector Welch, who was seated in the front passenger side of the vehicle, sustained severe injuries. They were all rushed to the Lethem Regional Hospital where the Inspector was pronounced dead on arrival and his colleagues were treated for minor injuries.
Welch, 38, of Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice, joined the Force on May 5, 1999 and was recently recognised by the Force after being adjudged third place winner of its Quarterly Essay Competition.
