Police, army did not mull taking 'Blackie' alive - Dr Luncheon Stabroek News February 19, 2000 There was no contemplation by the Joint Services members involved in the operation to apprehend Linden 'Blackie' London at the Toucan Guest House that he should be taken alive. Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, told reporters at his fortnightly press briefing yesterday that London's surrender during the shoot-out last week was not an option. "I believe that the instructions and the means that were applied by the joint services involved left questions about Mr London coming out alive." He said too that the military had cautioned the police that they should have the means to identify the pieces of London's remains, because of the artillery that it was about to use. He said that thoughts of their safety were uppermost in the minds of the officers and ranks at the site under fire rather than concern that if London was captured he would have been able to secure the services of high-priced lawyers to win his freedom or that he would have managed to escape while being held in custody. "I believe that their more immediate interest would have been... saving their bacon because people were shot; people were dying and this was not a Saturday night party or Sunday school... Safety implied the conclusion of the event... when you are a soldier and you go to war then your safety is guaranteed when the war is over. As long as you are at war your safety is not guaranteed." Luncheon said too that the government had no intention of having an investigation into the operations conducted by persons other than those from the army and police. Questions had been raised about the 11-hour siege at Eccles as there was the view that London was shot to death as he was about to surrender. London's companion, Rhonda Forde had been shot dead earlier during the siege in circumstances that are still unclear. According to Luncheon the government does not see the need for an additional probe nor does he feel there is widespread public concern about the way the operation was concluded. He characterised the hostile sentiments against the security forces expressed by the large crowd which was at London's funeral on Wednesday as ill-directed, He added that it was being manipulated but did not say by whom. "The rather hostile sentiments against the police that you observed during the funeral procession is of concern to not only to the police but it is a concern also to the administration." He noted that the army and the police "had come in for rather indelicate statements about their role and their activities in concluding this saga of the criminal Linden London. "However, I feel that saner heads would prevail as time evolves and no doubt a more balanced position would be taken when all the facts are in concerning this incident", he said.