Former Crime Chief posted to North West District

Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum

Former Crime Chief, Senior Superintendent Wendell Blanhum has been posted to the North West District where he is presently functioning as a sub-divisional officer under the command of ‘F’ Division Commander, Senior Superintendent Kevin Adonis.

Both Adonis and Blanhum share the same rank but Blanhum is senior to Adonis in the rank.

BIG Smith Crime Watch was told that the former Crime Chief has been posted as the Sub Division Officer in Mabaruma, a post which was previously held by an Inspector of Police and Assistant Superintendent of Police.

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan is record as saying that he had asked the Commissioner of Police to consider Blanhum’s ongoing studies at the University of Guyana before attempting to transfer him to the location.

However based on what we were told, there were other interventions into the matter and the advice of the Security Minister to the Police Commissioner had no bearings on the Top Cop as the transfer was executed nevertheless.

The government has openly stated that police officers who wish to develop themselves academically should be allowed to do. In fact, just last week an ad which boasted of government’s allowance of a number of police officers to peruse studies was posted to social media.

The police force has a policy where would tell all members joining the force that “transfer is part of the kit” meaning they can be transferred to any part of the force where there is a need for ranks.

Also, when it comes to perusing studies, the force takes several things into consideration and that includes potential void that may be left in the system by that officer being allowed to peruse studies be it fulltime or part-time.

The misfortunes of the Former Crime Chief began after a Commission of Inquiry was held into an alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger.

The public heard of how lightly the police treated the allegations and the roles a number of officers played which resulted in the matter not being investigated in the way it ought to have been investigated especially given that it concerned the Head of State.

Blanhum was the Country’s Crime Chief during that period at the Commission of Enquiry, he said that he believes the investigations were properly handled.

The Commission of Inquiry which was chaired by Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe recommended some sweeping changes within the force and among those, were for that Blanhum to be removed as Crime Chief and set to a location of the force where he can obtain command experience since he was lacking in that area.

Paul Slowe is now the chairman of the Police Service Commission which is responsible for the promotions of officers from the rank of Inspector to Assistant Commissioners of Police.