Bartica businessman Winston Miller Snr was livid last evening when he spotted on TV the policeman who brutalized him last month being officially appointed a cadet officer by Police Commis-sioner Henry Greene.

“This could be right? I don’t like this at all. It’s not fair because he brutalized me and left me blind and now he getting an award!”, Miller raged from Bartica last evening. A source informed this newspaper that the rank was among the appointees yesterday and since his transfer from the Bartica Police Station, he has been at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU). No senior police official could be reached last evening for a comment.

Miller said that while watching the news item he saw the cadet officer among others standing in a line.

While speaking with this newspaper, he said that the Guyana Police Force deceived him since they led him into believing that the rank and the two others implicated were still under close arrest.

He recalled that sometime last week a senior officer in the E & F Division told him that the file was sent to the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and that the findings would be released to the media. He was assured that the ranks were under close arrest.

Miller said that initially he was told that the investigation would take about a week and a month has since passed and he has heard nothing.

“I was waiting for the police. I wanted to give them a chance but now I don’t know what I am going to do now. This thing has upset me”, Miller said last evening.

“I think some cook up thing went on here cause I can’t see how this man do this to me and he getting award”, he added.

Around 11 pm on June 5, a cadet officer dressed in plain clothes arrived and tried to enter without paying the Ms Bootilicious show that was being held at Miller’s business but the person manning the door informed him that he had to pay the $1,000 entrance fee like everyone else.

The infuriated rank reportedly returned to the station where he changed into his uniform. He then returned to the club along with three other policemen, including two “black clothes” ranks.

Miller said the cadet officer then demanded that the proprietor of the establishment step forward and when he (Miller) identified himself he was told that he was under arrest and commanded to enter the police pick up. The 69-year-old businessman said that he refused to and later a gun was pointed at him by one of the ranks.

He had recalled being flung to the ground and trampled upon while being commanded to get into the police vehicle. He was kicked in his belly and his temple where he had an operation about eight years ago. As a result of this hit he has lost sight in one eye and has since been told that he may never see from it again.

A man who tried to defend Miller was gun butted. He eventually lost his balance and broke a few tables and chairs as he crashed to the ground. He had a visible injury to his chest.

One day after a community meeting during which residents voiced their frustrations over the conduct of ranks, the three policemen were transferred to the TSU and placed under close arrest.
Cadet appointments
During a simple ceremony yesterday in the Commissioner’s conference room, the thirteen cadet officers who had completed the recent Standard Officers Course #42 in February were presented with their appointments. Only 12 were present.

Assistant Commissioner Krishna Lakeraj said that the cadet officers benefited from the military training that was conducted at the Guyana Defence Force’s base Camp Stephenson. He said that all those who were successful should be applauded.

He acknowledged Lance Corporal Mahadeo Singh who is the most senior rank in the group and John Baker who was the top performer in the course.

Lakeraj expressed hope that each of the cadet officers will be performing to their fullest.

At the end of six months each of the officers will be assessed and after writing the police promotion examination at the end of two years will be promoted to Assistant Superintendent.

Meanwhile Greene told the officers that at the end of two years “you will be ripe and ready to take over”.