The Police’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has initiated an investigation into an incident involving gunfire at Republic Park, East Bank Demerara, occurring on Monday night (March 11). The incident reportedly involved Sergeant 20409 Ronald Payne of Providence Police Station and ranks affiliated with the Special Branch.
The Special Branch ranks, comprising a Sergeant, a Corporal, a Lance Corporal, and two Constables, were reportedly aiding Regional Division #3 ranks in an inquiry related to an alleged robbery/murder. Their focus was on locating a dark-coloured Toyota Rumion car believed to have been used by the suspects as a getaway vehicle.
Sergeant Payne, driving his own dark-coloured Toyota Rumion home from work around 22:10 hrs, encountered the Special Branch ranks. They discharged firearms into the air and directed him to halt. Unaware of their identity, Sergeant Payne felt threatened and proceeded to the Providence Police Station.
Following the incident, the involved ranks from the Special Branch visited the Providence Police Station and were subsequently placed under closed arrest. Authorities confiscated their firearms, and crime scene technicians collected several spent shells for examination. The Police Ballistics Department is conducting analyses on the recovered evidence.
