Cops awaiting legal advice on ex-SWAT commander whisky bust

The Guyana Police Force’s legal adviser is currently reviewing the file on the investigation of Motie Dookie, the former head of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit who was caught with 30 smuggled cases of whisky in late December.

Crime Chief Paul Williams told Stabroek News that the force is now awaiting the legal advice.

At a press conference last Friday, acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine announced that Dookie, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, has been temporarily transferred to the Strategic Planning Unit of the force. Dookie had been relieved of his duties as the commander of the SWAT Unit.

Motie Dookie

Dookie was in a minibus on the Whim Public Road, Corentyne, where it was stopped by a police anti-crime patrol and 30 cases of whisky were found aboard.

Dookie and the driver of the minibus were the only occupants of the vehicle and from initial reports the police say that the Deputy Superintendent indicated that 10 cases of whisky were in the minibus and they were to be used for a party. However, a search of the minibus revealed the 30 cases, which were seized.

Ramnarine last Friday, emphasised that at the time of his arrest Dookie was acting on his own accord. “That night, I contacted his commanding officer and I was assured that that officer was on his own. He was on his own, doing his own thing, doing whatever he was doing,” said Ramnarine.

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan has said that Dookie should be dismissed from the force for misconduct.

“This is a very serious offence, committed by a senior member of the force. Dookie has violated the principles and integrity of the police force… we cannot have rogue elements like him in the force… elements like him do damage to the force,” he told this newspaper last week.