Dartmouth fatal shooting: Officer who fired fatal shot under close arrest, no body cam used during operation – Police

…Top Cop, Crime Chief visit family
…SWAT team’s presence in Region a result of high-level intelligence

By Lakhram Bhagirat

While the Commissioner of Police has ordered an immediate and thorough investigation into the fatal shooting of Essequibo Coast businessman Orin Boston, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) member responsible for firing the fatal shot has been placed under close arrest.
That is according to Police Commissioner Nigel Hoppie during an emergency press conference on Wednesday. He also revealed that Boston was shot with a .223 calibre rifle, which is the standard issued to the SWAT team.
“The weapon that was used during the shooting is that of a rifle, a .223 calibre,” Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum has said.

Boston, of Hoppy Street Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was shot by SWAT officers during a search of his home at about 04:40h on Wednesday. He operated “Ease Meh Stress” bar, and word of his killing sparked massive protests (see story on centre pages).

Visits family
Commissioner Hoppie and Crime Chief Blanhum, along with other officers, travelled from Georgetown to the Essequibo Coast, where they met with the family and relatives of Boston. They assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted while appealing for the residents to desist from blocking the road.
At the press conference on Wednesday, Commissioner Hoppie promised that no stone would be left unturned as the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) investigates the incident.
“Myself and the Crime Chief have visited Dartmouth earlier in the day, and the wife and other relatives contradicted the Police claim, indicating that there wasn’t a confrontation. Even before I visited, I had asked for a comprehensive investigation to be done, and having listened to their story. I also reminded them that no stone is going to be left unturned, and a comprehensive investigation would be done in this matter,” he told reporters virtually from Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, Georgetown.
Hoppie said the Police had been on the Essequibo Coast conducting anti-crime operations which started at about 02:00h. They allegedly went to two houses where some persons wanted for murder were arrested. After conducting those searches, they went to Boston’s in pursuit of “prohibited items”.

When pressed for information as to what constitute “prohibited items”, the Top Cop would only say that the OPR investigation would reveal that.

High-level intelligence, no body cams
The SWAT team is highly trained, and is to be used only in specialised operations, such as fighting terrorism. When asked about their presence in Region Two, the Police Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Operation, Clifton Hicken, said it was as a result of high-level intelligence.
The SWAT team, consisting of one gazetted officer and 11 ranks, left the Georgetown Headquarters on Tuesday – mere hours before the fatal operation commenced.
Hoppie, Hicken and Blanhum were all adamant that the SWAT team’s presence was absolutely necessary in light of the information they received. However, none of them could say what the information was.
“Police, acting on intelligence, conducted searches there for prohibited items…nothing was found (at Boston’s) during the search…Usually when we receive intel and we assess the information, the SWAT team could be deployed based upon the intel we received.
Deployed to specific regions…the SWAT unit is not centralised in that Region, but whenever there is intel, we would conduct anti-crime patrols in specific regions, and so we were conducting anti-crime patrols in Region Two,” the Top Cop said.
Additionally, the Police Commissioner said the ranks were not wearing body cameras at the time of the operation. He did not venture into whether the utilisation of body cameras is part of the standard operating procedure of the Police. Instead, the Commissioner said that information would be related via the investigation by the OPR.
“My advice at the time was that the Police (were) not in possession of body cameras…I would just like to say that the ranks there were not using body cams, and all the SOPs that are required would be brought out in the investigations,” Hoppie related.
“Body cameras are issued to the regions and departments based on the resources that are available, and like the Commissioner said, if there is any breach while conducting the operation, it will be part of the investigation,” Hicken told reporters.
None of the senior officials at the press conference – which included Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum and Deputy Commissioner of Operations Clifton Hicken – provided a detailed account of the alleged confrontation between the officers and the businessman, and what led to the law enforcement officers opening fire.
Meanwhile, the Crime Chief noted that Boston had never been prosecuted criminally by the Police, but he said a check is still ongoing at the Criminal Record Office.
The OPR is currently in the region conducting their investigation.
“I indicated to the ranks who are conducting the investigation that we must work with a fair degree of alacrity to ensure that this is completed,” Hoppie said.

Concerned
The Police Commissioner said the Force remains concerned when force is used in the execution of any of their operations, and that is why he asked for such an urgent investigation. He added that if it is revealed that excessive force was used, then all those involved would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Hoppie further explained that, as Commissioner, he thought it necessary to go on the ground to ascertain exactly what was going on, since the roadways were blocked and residents were clamouring that it was an unjust shooting.
Additionally, the Ministry of Home Affairs said it is concerned about the shooting.
“The Ministry wishes to advise that the circumstances leading to and resulting in the loss of life would be thoroughly and independently investigated,” it said in a statement.