Top Cop calls on ranks to uphold professionalism during LGE

Police Commissioner Leslie James has issued a call for officers to remain steadfast and maintain professionalism in both the lead-up and the days preceding Local Government Elections (LGE).

The Commissioner made this call on Friday while visiting Central Police Station in New Amsterdam, where he inspected ranks of ‘B’ Division.
“In your daily operations, the public must be seen as first. As Police officers, you should not judge persons on their physical appearance. They must be treated with respect,” he told ranks representing all of the Police stations in the Division.
Commissioner James, who was on his first visit to the Division since becoming Top Cop, took with him the entire administration: Deputy Commissioner Lyndon Alves, who has responsibilities for crime and law enforcement; Deputy Commissioner Maxine Graham, who is in charge of operations; Deputy Commissioner Nigel Hoppie, who is in charge of intelligence; Deputy Commissioner Paul Williams, who has responsibilities for Police administration; and Superintendent Michael Sutton, who is In charge of finance.
The Commissioner said the team is serious about taking the GPF forward. He urged officers to pay attention in providing accurate information while reporting.
“If this is not done, misleading information could be given to the nation. It is better to say that you did not get the information than to provide misleading information. Police officers are supposed to be truthful people,” he admonished.
Commissioner James called on ranks attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and those who operate at inquiries offices at Police Stations to be impartial in their investigations. He noted that many of the nation’s courts are being bombarded with matters which are not being properly investigated.
“And then what happens? The cases are thrown out. Our citizens may be short-changed; persons may be injured, or even killed; and property might be damaged. Those persons are depending on us to do what is right,” the Commissioner said.
He added that each station must have the phrase, ‘listen to the other person’, “So that when persons come to the Station they will recognize that the Force is serious about administering justice.”
Following the inspection of ranks, two Constables were promoted on the spot to the rank of lance corporal.
Lance Corporal Lelitia Cummings is in charge of the office of the Officer in Charge of the Springlands Police Station, while Lance Corporal Randy Clarkson had to wait 14 years on the promotion.
Clarkson is the officer in charge of the Anti-Crime Motorbike Patrol. Clarkson was once shot in Rose Hall Town when he tried to apprehend a man who was in possession of an illegal firearm. Earlier this year, he was stabbed several times while arresting a teenager in New Amsterdam, Berbice.
The Commissioner said the promotions were based on performances during the inspection parade. He was later told that Clarkson was one of the leading crime fighters in the division. (Andrew Carmichael)