Commanders of all 12 Police Regional Divisions were told by Acting Police Commissioner, Clifton Hicken, to “put your houses in order”. They have until Monday to ensure this is done.
“Commanders, you are accountable for the officers and ranks under your command. I don’t want you to micro-manage but you must have a hands-on and effective approach to managing your respective divisions,” the Top Cop told the commanders at a closed-door Executive Leadership Team (ELT) meeting held today in the boardroom of the Officers’ Training Centre in Georgetown.
“We cannot take things for granted anymore, so wake up commanders…we need to get busy,” he instructed.
COHESIVE COMMAND STRUCTURE
Hicken, during the highly interactive leadership session, took the opportunity to thank his commanders for their overwhelming support. He, however, pointed out the need for a much higher level of cohesion and teamwork in the overall command structure of the Force.
Hicken noted that himself and others in the ELT will ensure that every effort is made to have a more cohesive command structure whereby all the commanders are working in unison as ‘one body’ with a common purpose to serve and protect.
He also said standardisation is necessary in order for the Police Force to achieve this cohesiveness at the commanders’ level.
“I want a cohesive command structure as we cannot work in isolation. So don’t allow the minority to blind the vision of the majority. If you want to swim against the tide you will swim alone,” the Top Cop declared.
INTROSPECTION
He also advised the commanders to “do introspection” and, where necessary, change their mode of operation in terms of how they manage the officers, inspectors and other ranks under their command. In this regard, he stressed that there will be no room for compromise when it comes to professionalism and accountability in the discharge of their duties as senior members of this noble profession.
COMMUNITY OUTREACHES
Hicken told his commanders to ensure that they go out into the communities in their respective divisions and interact with the residents and get to know them and understand their challenges.
“It is mandatory that you interact with the communities more often now than ever,” Mr. Hicken told the commanders.
Deputy Commissioner ‘Administration’ (ag), Mr. Calvin Brutus, also spoke at length with the commanders, during which he touched on a number of admin issues that relates to the police divisions, specifically, and the entire Guyana Police Force in general.
