Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine last week issued a stern warning to Policemen and women who were engaged in acts of misconduct, unprofessionalism and corruption, as he declared that there was no place for them in the Guyana Police Force.
Ramnarine refused to accept the popular argument that the salaries of lawmen were “too small,” and therefore it was more than likely they would be tempted to engage in illegalities to secure a few more dollars to survive in these turbulent times. He also dismissed the suggestion that unless the working conditions and several other issues linked to remuneration of junior ranks are addressed, the culture of corruption would continue within the Force.
The Top Cop is even quoted as saying, “Senior officers believe their salaries are still small. When I joined the Force, it was small, and it is still small; but yet we survived by the grace of God…
“Sometimes I can’t believe that, for a few more dollars, ranks will do something so outrageous that tarnishes the reputation of the Force.”
While Ramnarine is on point with his suggestions, and cannot, from any standpoint, be faulted for warning his ranks, he has to insist that his senior officers do not selectively condone corruption. It is a fact that change does not start from the bottom; it starts from the top, and there are many senior officers within Ramnarine’s force who justify, condone, and shield junior ranks who engage in unprofessional acts, corrupt practices and skullduggery.
Ramnarine must spare no effort at the level of his commanders and deputy commanders to insist that they demonstrate a zero tolerance approach within their policing divisions for ranks who believe that their uniforms give them the authority to break the laws of this country even when they are out of uniform. These policing supervisors have to conduct professionalism audits on the junior ranks, investigating every single complaint made by businessmen and members of the public.
They must not wait only for documented complaints, as was suggested by ‘C’ Division Commander Calvin Brutus. If they wait on that type of report, then the communities in which they operate would not willingly come forward and lodge complaints, because they would feel that they can be victimised and selectively targeted by other ranks because they have exposed corruption and unprofessionalism of their colleagues.
The Top Cop must roll out a clandestine yet systematic campaign that starts by targeting the traffic ranks who are most guilty of accepting bribes and harassing vehicle owners and road users for bribes and other gifts as well as services. These acts sometimes take place in the presence of senior officers and those in charge of the patrols that make community rounds.
The fact that already 4 officers are investigated for corruption and misconduct this year is telling. It means that the Top Cop must do much more than warn ranks; he has to upgrade the quality of training that these Policemen receive when they enter the Force. Efforts must also be made to mandate that ranks be part of refresher courses on etiquette and professionalism. If this is done, then Mr Ramnarine would be creating a new culture where misdemeanor and corruption are tabooed actions that ranks would not dare contemplate.
Also a deliberate effort must be made to revise the Standing Orders of the Police Force, to discourage misconduct. Currently, the sanctions are still too lenient for certain offences. Ramnarine must pave the way for stricter punitive penalties. Ranks at all levels will not learn unless they feel; and feel they must if the aim is to have a modern and professional police service.
The fact that eight lawmen have been charged in 2017 and 180 charged or disciplined departmentally, according to Police statistics, is motivation for a more robust approach to be explored in addressing the core problems. If this is not done, then none of the reforms being implemented by both the Commissioner’s Office and the Government would mean anything, because they would be stymied by officers who have been bitten by the ‘get rich quick syndrome’.
The truth is that the public will not be sympathetic to a Police Force that it believes is intrinsically corrupt and intellectually inept. It will not repose confidence in a policing body which lacks discipline and morals. It is important, from that standpoint alone, for more to be done to dismiss as many rogue ranks as possible, as opposed to keeping them in service. That is why it is important to make holistic assessments before rewarding ranks with promotion.
The hands-off approach must end, as all are involved and all are consumed.
