Police at Sparendaam Station are disobeying their superiors

Dear Editor,
On several occasions, I have observed that the Police ranks who are operating on mobile patrol between Turkeyen and Mon Repos, especially ranks from the Sparendaam Police Station, breaching the directives of their superiors in the Guyana Police Force.
The ranks are hiding in the corners of the roads, especially in the Plaisance area, and are pouncing on vehicle operators at ‘disturbing’ hours of the mornings and nights, as they claim that minor traffic offences are being committed.
Editor, how can the Police seriously charge a vehicle operator for breaching a traffic light close to midnight, when the roads are clear and there is virtually no traffic from any direction? Surely, these Police ranks, who are utilizing the State’s vehicles and resources, could utilize them better by checking for the more serious offences that result, like drinking under the influence (DUI) and speeding, which result in the loss of lives and limbs at those times in the morning.
I was present personally when such an incident took place, and despite the rational explanations offered by the vehicle driver, the Police insisted that he would be charged for the minor offence of jumping the traffic light, even though it was the first time that that driver was pulled over in that area, and all of his documentation was in place.
Also, I observed the Police conducting a DUI test at the station, and not at the location where they stopped the driver. This is also a breach of the Force’s policy.
After this incident, I can now appreciate how these DUI kits are wasted, and used callously by ranks to settle personal scores and stage vendettas against vehicle owners. These tests should be administered only after a trained traffic rank notices a difference in the driver’s behavioural pattern, but it would appear that with every stop it is being administered.
I can’t help but feel that more sober people ended up having their time wasted by these ranks, who are looking for a quick buck and trying hard to raise a small piece.
I have also observed the ranks turning off their sirens and hiding in the dark corners at bars and other night spot, waiting for patrons to get into their vehicles to arrest them. That is criminal behaviour, and I expect that those officers who behave in this manner would be disciplined, in line with the Force’s standing orders and the policy positions adumbrated by Mr Ramnarine and retired Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud.
Whenever drivers are not found to be over the legal limit in terms of alcohol, they are harassed, and their documents are confiscated with, I suspect, a view to pressuring them into giving bribes to avoid the wastage of their time.
Some ranks at the station are giving the entire station and, by extension, the Force, a very bad name when they do not exercise discretion and professionalism in their line of duty.

Regards,
Martin Singh