June 21 2019
An investigation has been launched into the recent allegations made against a senior Guyana Police Force officer, who has been implicated in corrupt activities in Berbice alongside junior ranks within the division.
According to a reliable police source, the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has launched an investigation and has a specific timeframe in which it has to present a report to President David Granger. The police force has not spoken publicly on the allegations.
The source said he was informed that two detective constables were accused of speaking out to the media by the senior officer, who has been implicated in accepting bribes to stall criminal investigations, among other things. Some of his junior associates have also been linked to a murder and robbery suspect who was recently killed during a shootout with the police.
Stabroek News had previously reported that the men were transferred. However, the source said that he was told that the two ranks were ordered to meet with the senior officer after the allegations emerged in the media.
The source, who said he was very upset over the matter, noted that he was told that the senior officer accused the detective constables of speaking out and after they denied the allegations he transferred them and reverted them to uniformed ranks immediately. “Apparently he wanted them to agree that they were the ones to speak out and after they deny it he got upset and revert and transfer them. I heard the man say he got the power and he will deal with them,” the source said.
The source also said he was told the ranks went to Commander Paul Langevine and he was unaware where they were transferred, “so you know it means he (commander) is waiting on instructions from that man. It is very upsetting because this is his (the senior officer’s) way of interfering because imagine the commander don’t know where they transferred to yet and even if them get transfer, which is part of the job. Why he revert them to uniform? What them do?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, Stabroek News was informed that a Lance Corporal, who is protected by the senior officer, allegedly identified the two detective constables as possible sources quoted in Stabroek News articles about the corruption activities.
However, the Lance Corporal is said to have been moved to New Amsterdam Police Station but was not reverted to police uniform. “He [the senior officer] put the two boys back in black and blue and people will think that they did something. In some ways, it will be embarrassing for them because they are known detectives and both have years of service. Police will even think is them talk out,” the source added. “And the one accused of corruption he didn’t put him back in black and blue and got him on the job with his service weapon. This is clear that he is being protected like he [the Lance Corporal] does always say.”
The source called for Deputy Commissioner of Administration Paul Williams to look into the transfers immediately. “I think this is being done behind Mr. Williams’ back and he needs to look in to this because I don’t think he would allow this to happen,” he noted.