The Guyana Police Association condemns the brutal killing of three police ranks and nine civilians during the maddening rampage by a group of armed men at Bartica Sunday night.

In a statement condemning the attack and also expressing its sympathy, the association said it felt strongly that the intention is to demoralize the members of the force and to create an environment that may lead to difficulty in the force’s ability to attract new recruits, which would adversely affect it in dealing with crime.

The association is urging all its members and officers of the force to be strong and remain focused at this time and not to be swayed by these actions of criminal elements within the society.

The body also called on the government to do everything in its power to ensure that the morale of members of the force remained high in these challenging times and called for the immediate appointment of the Chairman of the Police Service Commission as a requisite in order that police ranks may receive the consequential benefits.

“The police have a job to do, which is to serve and protect this nation, and it will continue to do so by all possible means along with the help of public-spirited and law abiding citizens,” the statement said.

The body also called upon citizens to support the police in their just cause and the fight against crime.