A retired senior police officer says security lapses led to Constable Kester Cosbert being disarmed, leaving two police officers dead at the Brickdam police station.

Cosbert was the compound sentry on Monday when Solomon Blackman struck him on the head with a bottle and wrestled his weapon from his holster.

He went on to shoot and injure Cosbert and murder Lance Corporal Ramnarine Latchana and Assistant Superintendent, Richard Griffith.

The officer, who requested anonymity, observed that if the standard police procedure was followed Blackman would not have reached that close to Cosbert.

"A sentry on duty should always be in a position to see whoever is approaching him from in front, behind at the side or wherever," the officer declared. Reports are that Blackman attacked Cosbert from behind.

The officer mentioned too that a sentry is like the watchdog for any station and as such no visitor should be allowed to get close to him. The officer said once one enters the station compound and appears to be heading in the direction of the sentry, the sentry has all the right to command that person to halt and ask what he was doing there. If the visitor fails to comply the sentry would then ready his weapon and issue another command for the visitor to halt. Failure to comply the second time could result in that visitor being restrained with whatever force was necessary. The officer said that these procedures were hardly ever followed and this was indicative of the general breakdown in the force.

The officer added that it was not the sentry's duty to open and close the station's gate. Neither was he responsible for directing visitors as to where a particular office might be located. He believes that two persons should at all times be at the gate; one to man it and the other to stand as a guard. On Monday Cosbert was performing both duties.

The officer questioned why Cosbert's weapon was not carrying a lanyard (a cord used as a handle). This would have helped him to keep a firmer grip on his weapon. Previously it was a British standard that all weapons were issued with what is called a strap, sling or lanyard in the case of small arms. The officer said weapons were previously manufactured with lanyards, which are normally attached to the butt of the weapon and onto the officer's uniform.

"But these days the more advanced weapons are not being manufactured with this feature, because some feel that it is too cumbersome. But I know that it served a very good purpose during my time," the officer said.

He added that even though the weapons were not made to carry a lanyard, one could still be attached.

"If the weapon was carrying the lanyard it would have taken Blackman longer to disarm him. In fact, because the weapon would have been attached to him, Blackman would have had to pull him a long way if he was really determined in getting his weapon and I am sure by that time someone would have subdued him."

Questions are also being raised as to why officers did not confront Blackman more quickly. The distance from the sentry to where Latchana was standing is just over five metres, while the distance between Latchana and the enquiries office, where Nelson was standing is slightly less than that.

It would have taken Blackman just under a minute to get to the traffic office, where Griffith was shot if he was running at top speed.

But while all of this was happening no attempt was made to control the man and when asked why yesterday, a senior police officer said he too was wondering what went wrong.

Eyewitnesses said most of the others ranks around at the time were unarmed and instead of subduing Blackman they ran for cover. Most of the ranks in the enquiries office were women who seldom carried firearms.

Blackman had entered the compound with a glass bottle. Asked why this was allowed, the officer said there was no law stating that a man could not enter a station with a bottle. He said the sentry must have allowed him inside because at the time he did not appear to be disturbed.

Meanwhile post-mortem reports yesterday revealed that both Latchana and Griffith died as a result of shock and hemorrhage.

Medical sources confirmed that Latchana died from a shot which punctured his heart while Griffith succumbed to one bullet to his lower back.

Latchana's wife, Rohini yesterday told this newspaper that arrangements are being made for him to be buried on Saturday. Griffith's wife, Pamela said they are awaiting overseas relatives before a date is decided upon for the funeral. But she wants him to be buried no later than Tuesday.

Since Monday's incident, security has been tightened at the station with two sentries at the gate.

Contacted on Tuesday, a senior officer confirmed that Blackman was a convicted felon on three charges; one for inflicting grievous bodily arm and another for malicious wounding. The officer could not recall the third conviction.

The death of the two policemen is the latest in a series of brutal attacks on cops. Up until Monday, 21 cops were killed in the line of duty since April 2, 2002.

In separate statements both the PPPC and PNCR expressed sympathy and grief at the shootings.