Updated: Assistant Police Commissioner Josiah dies

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 21:00 by GxMedia

One of Assistant Commissioner Derrick Josiah’s nieces running behind the hearse as it was leaving Woodlands Hospital with his body.

Assistant Police Commissioner, Derrick Josiah died on Friday as a result of a massive heart attack, his long-time colleague George Vyphuis confirmed.

He was 50 years old.

Assistant Commissioner Vyphuis said that Josiah was receiving treatment for an injury he had sustained during an accident on the West Coast Demerara several weeks ago.

He said Josiah was at a private hospital for follow-up treatment when he suffered the heart attack.

At Woodlands Hospital, the scene was an emotional one among family members and other close associates who blamed that health care institution for killing Josiah.

Several male and female high-ranking officers and other members of the Police Force wept openly for their dear colleague.

Vyphuis remembered Josiah as a brother, friend and leader who was certainly a future Police Commissioner. “He will be missed by all of us. Guyana has lost a faithful son. It’s a big loss for us. It’s not a good Christmas gift,” said Vyphuis.
Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Gavin Primo recalled growing up together with Josiah on the West Coast Demerara where they attended Uitvlugt Church of Scotland School.  Primo recalled Josiah, a devout Christian praying for him shortly before he was about to travel overseas for surgery.

He credited the former A Division Commander with improving relations with the public. “He was able to bridge that gap between the police and the public being a man who was close to the cloth and being a policeman. Derrick Josiah brought out that other part of policing that persons don’t generally know,” added Primo.