Cop laid to rest day after his wife gave birth to new baby

Its a moment of joy and sadness for the wife, parents relatives and friends of late Police Corporal Dwayne McPherson who is being laid to rest today, one day after the birth of his newborn child who he did not live to see.

The policeman was killed on New Year’s Day 2023 when the police responded to a report of wounding in Region 5.

Two police ranks who also responded to the report with McPherson were placed under close arrest in relation to his shooting death.

At a funeral service on the Corentyne Coast Saturday, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken said the death of the police is a hurt to the force, family and community and represents a reduction in the total strength of the Guyana Police Force.

Commissioner Hicken made a commitment that the force under him will not slack on its responsibility of ensuring that the children of the dead policeman are taken care off in a way he [McPherson] himself would have taken care of them.

Home Affairs Minister Benn said he continues to speak about the practice of people fighting with and assaulting police officers and called on the general public to desist from the practice.

Benn said when members of the public get into fights with the police, the community suffers and families are broken. He further stated that the police were told to use less force when dealing with members of the public, Nevertheless, Benn said for those who continue to fight with police officers they will have to deal with the consequences as this cannot be allowed to continue.

The wife of the dead policeman was not present at the ceremony but his mother and siblings were.

Some mourners wore red and black, the red to give an indication that his blood was shed.

The policeman is receiving a military send off in accordance with his death which occurred while he was in the line of duty.

Among those present at the funeral are Deputy Commissioners Brutus, Blanhum, Watts, Assistant Commissioner Simon and Senior Superintendent Bacchus among other officers and ranks of the Guyana Police Force.