The Guyana Police Force on Sunday continued tradition as members gathered at the Police Monument site at Eve Leary, Georgetown to remember those officers who were killed in the line of duty.

This year, 64 officers are being remembered officially but the force is also paying homage to those who died on the job.

Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud said it was time Guyana observed a National Day for its fallen Heroes.

The Commissioner said the suffering of the spouses and children of these men and women who were killed in the line of duty often times go unnoticed as he pledged greater economic support to these families.

Persuad used Sunday’s ceremony to hand over $2.7M to the Fallen Heroes Foundation which were monies raised during a fundraiser the Force held.

He said this money along with the support the Foundation has received from President David Granger and the government will go towards helping with the education and welfare of the children of the fallen heroes.

According to the Guyana Police Force, since 1913, these 64 policemen would have been those killed in the firing line.

Policemen like Akeem Hyles who died after the boat he was travelling in capsized in the Potaro River and Kelvin LaFleur who was struck down while helping children to cross the road at Eccles are not named among those to have died in the line of duty.

Last year the force remembered 62 ranks. The two new ranks added to the list this year are Antonio Dawson who was stabbed while apprehending a suspect at Gafoors and Leonard LaRose who was also stabbed while apprehending a suspect who was wanted for rape at Mathews Ridge.

The first Policeman killed in the line of duty was Corporal James Ramsey. In 1913, he was killed at Plantation Rose Hall in Canje, Berbice by armed strikers.

The Guyana Police Force is currently celebrating its 177th Anniversary and the wreath laying ceremony for fallen heroes is one of the activities to mark the milestone.

The Sunday morning ceremony was a very solemn one. Senior members of the Police Force joined the Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and family members of the fallen ranks in laying floral tributes at the monument site in honour of those who ranks who died.

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