SENIOR Superintendent Ewart Wray, Commander of Regional Division 4 ‘C’, has underscored the importance of community participation in policing as a vital component in building safer communities across Guyana.
In an interview published on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Facebook page, Commander Wray emphasised that while the GPF remains legally mandated to serve and protect, citizen involvement plays a crucial role in enhancing law enforcement efforts and fostering a more secure environment.
“Community participation in policing is not about civilians taking control of police duties but rather a necessary augmentation to achieving success in crime prevention,” Commander Wray explained. “Safe communities are indicators of national development, and history has shown that collaboration between law enforcement and the public yields positive results.”
Drawing from the research of Guyanese academic Professor, Vibert Cambridge, Wray highlighted that security has always been a shared goal within societies. He pointed out that coordinated efforts between the police and communities align with global best practices in governance, health, education, and culture.
According to Commander Wray, the fellowship established between various community groups and the GPF helps to define and implement more effective security strategies.
“Police officers are trained in crime prevention and detection, traffic management, and other policing techniques, but, without the support of the public, maintaining peace becomes significantly more challenging,” he noted.
The GPF’s Mission Statement commits officers to working in partnership with communities, public agencies, and private bodies to prevent crime and enhance safety. To fulfill this commitment, the Force has developed several partnerships that aim to improve police-community relations and strengthen public security initiatives.
“These partnerships are not limited to any specific group but involve the entire society—anyone with an interest in peacebuilding and community safety,” Commander Wray explained. “We operate using a framework similar to what the World Bank describes as a ‘typology of participation,’ which includes consultation, collaboration, and empowerment.”
KEY POLICING INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS
Several ongoing initiatives and partnerships have been instrumental in fostering police-community engagement. These include: Community Policing – encouraging residents to work alongside the police to maintain law and order in their neighborhoods; Community Relations Department – enhancing relations between the police and the public to build mutual understanding and cooperation; Cops and Faith Initiative – engaging religious leaders in providing mediation and counselling services, as well as coordinating community projects; and Impact Albouystown Initiative – offering vocational training, literacy programmes, and drug resistance education for at-risk youths.
Other collaborations include youth groups, Station Management Committees, and partnerships between the police and private security firms. Additionally, intelligence-driven collaborations with both public and private entities remain critical to law enforcement but cannot be publicly disclosed for security reasons.
POSITIVE RESULTS IN REGIONAL DIVISION 4 ‘C’
Commander Wray shared that Regional Division 4 ‘C’ has witnessed significant community involvement, with over 200 police-led outreach programmes conducted in 2024 alone. These initiatives have facilitated stronger ties between officers and residents, contributing to crime reduction and safer neighbourhoods.
“In future discussions, I will explore specific partnerships in more detail and highlight how they contribute to both short-term and long-term security goals,” he said.
As law enforcement continues to evolve, the emphasis on community engagement remains central to the GPF’s mission. The collaborative approach advocated by Commander Wray reinforces the idea that public safety is a collective responsibility—one that requires active participation from both the police and the communities they serve.
