Deviation from SOP resulted in accidental shooting – Rohee

The policeman who accidentally shot a colleague in his abdomen while in the armory of the Tactical Services Unit Eve Leary Sunday morning deviated from the force’s Standard Operational Procedure while handling guns, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said.

“There are basic standing orders. There are standard operational procedures in respect of possession and use of firearm. There are SOPs for almost everything actions of a police… The rules are against horsing around with a loaded firearm and they are trained along those lines. So obviously this was a deviation from the SOP,” Rohee said.

The turnout at last night’s public consultation on the Haags Bosch sanitary landfill which was held at the Eccles Primary School was somewhat larger than the initial consultation. The last consultation which was held on June 2 saw a turnout of only seven Eccles residents, which led to a rescheduling of the meeting. Residents were given an overview of the objectives of the consultation, and they were also given a chance to ventilate their views. Some of the exchanges were heated. Present at the consultation was Minister within the Ministry of Local Government Norman Whittaker along with several Environmental Protection Agency representatives.
The turnout at last night’s public consultation on the Haags Bosch sanitary landfill which was held at the Eccles Primary School was somewhat larger than the initial consultation. The last consultation which was held on June 2 saw a turnout of only seven Eccles residents, which led to a rescheduling of the meeting. Residents were given an overview of the objectives of the consultation, and they were also given a chance to ventilate their views. Some of the exchanges were heated. Present at the consultation was Minister within the Ministry of Local Government Norman Whittaker along with several Environmental Protection Agency representatives.

A police source told Stabroek News that Constable Christopher Albert was accidentally shot once by another rank as he was placing rounds into his .38 revolver. The men were about to go on duty from 7am on Sunday. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and received treatment for his wounds since the bullet entered his lower abdomen and exited on the right side of his buttocks.

Commissioner of Police Leroy Brumell, when contacted, told this publication that while he would have to wait on full details from the Divisional Commander he understands that the two “were playing”. He said he was told that the injured rank was in a medically stable state and was “going to be alright”.

Rohee believes that the incident could have been avoided if the officer on duty had practiced what was taught to him and is in his handbook. “These things are there in print, in writing, there is a big, thick book and everything is clearly spelled out …Not that these things are not there, they are there,” he said.

The policeman who fired the shot is currently under close arrest.