Cop, hire car driver clash still under probe
The clash between a Berbice police officer and a hire car driver in New Amsterdam which sparked national debate is still currently being investigated.
Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Communications Unit, Mark Ramotar yesterday told Stabroek News that the matter “is still being investigated at the level of the OPR (Office of Professional Responsibility).”
According to information gathered, the hire car driver involved in the matter has since relocated to Georgetown after the car he was driving was taken back by the owners following the incident.
Sometime around midday on Monday last week, Constable 23719 Walker was performing traffic duties along Strand Public Road, New Amsterdam in the vicinity of the New Amsterdam Market, when he noticed, HC 8428, which was being driven by Narine Ramdharry of East Bank Berbice in a no-stopping area outside of the market.
Stabroek News was told, that Constable Walker approached the driver and informed him of the offence he had committed.
At that point, the driver became visibly upset and began to verbally abuse the police officer, this newspaper was previously told.
At this stage, Constable Walker ordered the driver to step out of the vehicle which he refused to do and started to rev his vehicle. The police officer then attempted to remove the driver’s keys from the ignition resulting in the driver exiting the vehicle and chucking the rank several times after which the rank was dealt a cuff to his face.
In a video which later surfaced on social media, Constable Walker then retaliated and started to return punches to the driver, administering a severe beating in the process.
Commander of Region Six, Boodnarine Persaud had stated that both the police constable and driver were medically examined, however, he had said that no one was placed under arrest.
Commissioner of Police (ag.) Clifton Hicken in a statement to the press following the incident had expressed his dissatisfaction over the incident.
The Commissioner had said that an investigation will be done to mitigate
this type of behaviour as he appealed to the public to cooperate with the police and vice versa.
“The police does not and cannot operate in isolation, thus the need for partnership and cooperation between the Police and the public, one that should be premised on mutual trust and cooperation while exploring every avenue to maintain law and order in society,” the statement
quoted Hicken as saying.
Additionally, according to the statement, the Top Cop assured the public that the “police force is working on postures and strict adherence to SOPs aimed at ensuring that ranks are professional in the discharge of their duties, even in the face of harassment and intimidation from noncooperating civilians.”