CID must strengthen teamwork, standards – Blanhum

…as 47 cops complete revived CID investigators course

“It is of utmost importance and significance that I invoke Standing Order #62 (1) which mandates the CID to work as a team,” Deputy Commissioner (Law Enforcement), Wendell Blanhum said on Monday, as he addressed the graduation of 47 police ranks who completed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Junior Investigators Course 1 of 2026.
The participants, drawn from across regions and departments of the Guyana Police Force and ranging in rank from Lance Corporal to Sergeant, were formally presented with certificates and awards during a graduation ceremony held at CID Headquarters on Vlissengen Road.

According to a post on the Guyana Police Force’s social media page, the course, which had not been conducted for approximately two decades, was revised and reintroduced to strengthen investigative capacity within the Force through refresher and advanced training modules.
Blanhum said the programme was designed to enhance investigative skills and respond to current operational demands.
“This Junior Investigators Course serves a number of primary purposes. The objective was to enhance your skills and knowledge in criminal investigations. The training requirements had to be reviewed considering our enhanced workload, more so since the last course was held about two decades ago,” he said.
He noted that the curriculum was tailored to reflect the duties of frontline investigators and detective ranks dealing with serious and complex cases.
“We had to tailor the training to ensure that it caters for the roles and responsibilities of the specific rank structure directly involved in responding to crime scenes and detectives tasked with investigating very serious and complicated cases,” Blanhum stated.
Training covered a range of investigative and legal subject areas, including report writing, statement taking, suspect and witness interviewing (theory and practical), crime scene management, identification parades, and preparation of search warrants and case files.
Participants also studied key legal frameworks such as the Judges’ Rules, elements of crime, laws of evidence, defences to crime, and procedures related to committals and inquests.
Blanhum commended the participants for their performance, noting that they had performed well under pressure.
“All of you did exceptionally well in your examination despite the time constraints and perhaps some difficult circumstances. Therefore, you deserve our highest appreciation. I would say confidently that all of you are capable of delivering the best service to the people of Guyana,” he said.
He also signalled that future training opportunities, including overseas courses, would be awarded on a merit basis as part of capacity building within the CID.
“Some of you will be considered for overseas training as we continue to build capacity in the CID. Let it be known that we are going to have meritocracy as our guide whenever those training opportunities are available,” he added.
Blanhum urged the graduates to maintain discipline and professionalism in their work.
“The road ahead may pose some challenges, but rest assured that we have prepared you to confront these challenges. Stay committed to the mission and objectives of this noble organisation. Continue to excel within your respective units and stations,” he said.
Corporal Kevin Brown of CID Headquarters emerged as the top performer in the course. Sergeant Randy David, also of CID Headquarters, placed second, while Corporal Garfield Solomon of Region Three placed third.
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Crime Chief Senior Superintendent Mitchell Caesar, Senior Police Legal Advisor Mandel Moore, Junior Police Legal Advisors Janet Ali and Aarti Hooblal, along with senior CID officers.