New cops urged not to abuse power
Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud yesterday urged 225 new law enforcement officers to remember their oath of office throughout their careers as it is the most effective guide in providing service to society.
He was delivering the feature address at a passing out parade held at the Tactical Services Unit’s Drill Square, Eve Leary yesterday under the theme ‘Training to Build and Strengthen the Competencies of Ranks, Through Partnerships and Monitoring of Performances’. The parade was held for officers from various divisions who successfully completed recruit courses 347, 348, 349, 350, 33 ‘B’, 11 ‘G’ and Presidential Guard 2/2016 which commenced on August 8 and concluded on 16 December.
The commissioner told the new ranks, “Policing is a career, it is not one of those get-rich-quick jobs,” as he reminded them that they have been introduced to a lot of values and will be required to be dependable in order to provide services to the communities where they will be deployed.
“Take action in accordance with the standard operating procedures that you have learnt and that you will continue to learn as you depart the college,” he said, reminding them that “service is to people” and they will constantly need to develop their interpersonal skills.
“Remain a human being, power tends to lure people. Nothing will lead you astray faster and into disaster more than abusing your power. Use your authority to help the weak and less fortunate,” the commissioner advised.
“Remember you can become anything you want to become and within the force there are opportunities that lend to that,” he said.
Trophies were awarded to the most outstanding graduates of each recruit course. The best graduating students for the seven recruit courses were Woman Constable 23751 Adams, Constable 23885 Ramnarine, Woman Constable 23764 Austin, Constable 23882 Prince, Constable 23905 Singh, Constable 23831 Hilliman and Constable 23826 Harris respectively. For each course there was also a runner-up prize and most outstanding student award.
Assistant Commissioner and Force Training Officer Paul Williams during his introductory remarks reminded the parents of the graduates that they also have a role to play to ensure that the new officers maintain the discipline and the type of etiquette and ethics that are required of policemen and policewomen. “They are no longer to be dressed the way they used to before they came on board. They are no longer to conduct themselves the way to use to. They are no longer to associate with persons who are of questionable character because that itself can also cause problems,” Williams said while urging the ranks to be professional, committed, focused and put into practice what they have learnt for the period they trained as they continue to make the Guyana Police Force proud.