Georgetown : Twenty-six ranks that constitute the country’s first Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit successfully completed the first (basic) phase of training and have already commenced the second phase. A graduation ceremony was yesterday held at the Police Training Centre at Camp and Young Streets, Georgetown.
Lead Trainer, Dallas Stidd thanked the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) for providing some of finest officers to be part of the unit. He said that the methods of a formalised SWAT team are new to the officers and the country as a whole.
“These police officers have been instrumental in assisting us on how to implement this SWAT team in the Guyanese police force…the main purpose of a well-trained and equipped SWAT team is to save lives, these police officers have been introduced to the capabilities and principles of a SWAT team,” he said.
The trainer explained that now that the officers have completed the basic training, they fully understand the principles of close-quarter combat, such as: surprise is not unexpected, speed is not fast, balance of action is a control event, the different between cover and concealment, dominate a room, eliminate a threat and control any situation.
“These officers know how to prepare for tactical operations as a SWAT team; they know how to prepare a SWAT operation order and give a team briefing…the operation order assigns all individual and team assignments and every piece of equipment needed to perform that operation.
They are also familiar with what it takes to conduct a hostage rescue operation and how important it is to only go into a situation if it is a win for SWAT.
“At the conclusion of this training, at the end of August, these police officers will be SWAT operators and will have the ability to operate as a SWAT team…they will prepare for the worst and hope for the best, and they always adhere to the priority of life model,” Stidd explained.
Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee in his remarks said that there are great public expectations with regards to this Unit and rightly so, since as taxpayers, they have a stake in the businesses of public safety and security.
He said that far too often, law enforcement agencies come in for serious flak from members of the public. He noted that while citizens are free to make constructive criticisms, they must also make recommendations and proposals on the way forward rather than just unleashing police-bashing tirade.
“Any new component of the Guyana Police Force that raises the prestige and esteem of this organisation to higher levels must and should be welcomed…the Government of Guyana is very pleased that the orgsanisation establishing this SWAT team has come to the stage at where it is, and we are also pleased that the team is now poised to move to another level,” Minister Rohee said.
The Minister reminded of the importance of upholding/respecting the human rights of every single Guyanese citizen in the execution of their duties.
He assured that the Home Affairs Ministry stands ready to support every stage of this process. This year’s national budget has allocated $19.5M to the security sector, which will see further support to this new unit.
The Minister also lauded outgoing Commissioner of Police, Leroy Brumell and said that the SWAT Unit is his legacy to the police force.
Meanwhile, Brumell who will be retiring in another six days, said that the selected batch of officers has shown tremendous discipline, commitment and professionalism, qualities that will go a far way in making the Unit one that citizens can rely on and be proud of.
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