Commissioner of Police (ag) Clifton Hicken on Monday visited relatives of 23-year-old Quindon Bacchus, who was shot dead by a plain-clothes police rank on Friday last at Haslington, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
During the visit to the Golden Grove, ECD family house, Hicken told relatives that he will ask the Police Complaints Authority to expedite its investigation into the shooting death.
The police are expected to send a file to the Authority today for it to probe the incident.
The Top Cop assured the family of Bacchus that the investigation will have no interference from the Guyana Police Force.
The Police Complaints Authority is responsible for receiving complaints of specific cases of misconduct by members of the Police Force and also supervises the investigation of certain serious crimes alleged to have been committed by ranks.
“I have spoken to the aggrieved family and there will be an impartial investigation.
“The Police Complaints Authority will be investigating this matter, that is a constituted body and the police will have no interference,” Commissioner Hicken told protesting family members and relatives on Monday.
Hicken said he will not intervene in the investigation, but will ask that it be expedited.
Bacchus was reportedly shot six times to the body and once to the head, but an autopsy will confirm that later on Monday.
A member of the Force claimed that he attempted to sell an illegal firearm to him.
Relatives asked for the dead man’s house keys, clothing and cell phone to be returned. Hicken then told the Commander for ‘C’ Divison, Khali Pareshram to inquire from the Police Complaints Authority whether these items can be returned.
Representatives from the Police Complaints Authority, and Police Office of Professional Responsibility along with other senior officers of the Force also accompanied the Top Cop during the visit.
Hicken also engaged with residents and family members protesting for justice on the Golden Grove public road on Monday.
Protesters told the Top Cop that Bacchus and the officer, who allegedly shot him, had a grievance and recently confronted each other at a bar.
The Top Cop in turn said, “Just avail yourself to give this information in writing to aid in the investigation.”
According to the official police report, ranks were carrying out an intelligence-led operation.
It was further noted that the plain-clothes rank made arrangements to purchase the firearm from Bacchus who left and then returned with the firearm.
While in the process of handing over the firearm, an alarm was raised which resulted in the now dead man attempting to escape while reportedly shooting at ranks.
Police said the rank returned fire and Bacchus was shot.
The firearm was later identified as a .380 pistol with a magazine that had one round.
