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Offline Flex

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #270 on: March 31, 2015, 01:54:08 AM »
12 cops held for questioning
T&T NEWSDAY REPORTERS


FIVE police officers were yesterday arrested in connection with the burning of Ralph Andre Lewis with hot water last month, while nine others surrendered to officers of the Professional Standards Bureau.

According to sources, the exercise to arrest the lawmen began at 4 am. One of the three is an acting Inspector of Police, who was held at his home in Rio Claro.

The 12 are expected to be charged with misbehaviour in public office, attempting to pervert the course of public justice and failing to act in accordance with the Police Service Act.

The arrest of the three and subsequent surrender of the remaining nine were the result of a complaint made by Andrew Lewis, of Boys town, Sangre Grande, who was detained for questioning on February 24, at the Sangre Grande Police Station as a suspect in a house-breaking and larceny matter.

It has been alleged that Lewis refused to cooperate, he was then stripped naked, a bowl of water was heated in the microwave and then thrown on his lower extremities and stomach.

He was taken to hospital where he was treated and warded.

A catheter had to be inserted for him to urinate and doctors have had to do corrective plastic surgery to his lower extremities.

Within 24 hours of the incident, a senior officer reported the matter to his superiors and five officers — an acting inspector, an acting corporal, two police constables and a woman police constable — who were present during the interrogation of Lewis were transferred to other stations in the Eastern Division.

Sources said the officers of the PSB, assisted by officers of the Guard and Emergency Branch, Inter-Agency Task Force and the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit, obtained arrest warrants for the police officers and early yesterday morning went to the homes of those allegedly involved.

Five of the 12 were taken to the Port-of-Spain Criminal Investigations Department where they are being detained for questioning. Those who were not arrested and learnt that there were warrants in their names, surrendered themselves to investigators.

The Police Service has a zero tolerance policy on all allegations of police misconduct. Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams could not be reached for a comment.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #271 on: April 01, 2015, 01:58:13 AM »
Cops lackadaisical
By Jada Loutoo (Newsday).


DEPUTY Commissioner of Prisons Roland Morgan has yet again placed the blame for the late arrival or non arrival of prisoners to court squarely on the shoulders of the police.

He accused the police officers who escort prisoners from the prisons to the courts of being “lackadaisical” in the conduct of their duties.

Morgan gave examples of police officers standing around doing nothing while prisoners were being shackled and of even hiding in the prison bus rather than entering the prison to get the prisoners. Oftentimes, he added, they behaved in a hostile manner.

“(Prisoners) leaving the prison on time depends on the early arrival of the police,” he said.

Morgan was summoned to appear before Justice Malcolm Holdip, who is presiding over the Vindra Naipaul-Coolman murder trial in the Port-of-Spain Second Criminal Court, to explain why prisoners were not taken to court for the trial for three days last week.

While no police officers went to the prison for prisoners on the Monday and Tuesday, on Wednesday only eight of the 12 accused were taken to court. The remaining four, who are incarcerated at the Port-of-Spain Prison on Frederick Street, were not taken to court.

Morgan said yesterday he personally endeavored to have the High Court prisoners leave the Port- of-Spain Prison before those destined for the magistrates’ court, but was told by the police that the court began at 10 am.

This explanation drew the ire of Holdip who said he was in shock by what he heard.

“This despite the Remand Warrant issued by the court says 9 am? We have been coming here for months and prisoners are arriving late. I am in shock to hear that although the Remand Warrant says 9 am, the prison officer says the police told him this court starts at 10 am. Police are saying ‘we run this show tonight. Don’t worry about him. We starting at 10 am’,” the judge remarked.

Morgan has been mandated by the judge to provide documentary evidence as it relates to the transfer of prisoners from the prison to the court and the arrival times of the police escort at the jails, for the last eight weeks and return to court on April 14.

On Friday, Morgan appeared before Justice Maria Wilson who is presiding over a six-accused murder trial in the Port-of-Spain Fifth Criminal Court and attributed blame to the police for the late arrival of prisoners

But while, the deputy prisons chief said it was the fault of the police, Snr Supt (Court and Process) Kenneth Cordner, who appeared before Justice Holdip and Justice Wilson, last week Thursday and Friday respectively, said the late arrival or non-appearance of prisoners weren’t always the fault of the police, but oftentimes inmates were not handed over to them at the prisons.

“Sometimes we have no reason why they aren’t handed over. We cannot force the prison to hand over prisoners,” he said. Cordner said it was an uphill battle to synergise the operations between the Prison Service and the TTPS.

He suggested a change in the current legislation as it relates to the police escort of prisoners to allow for the correctional facility to undertake the task as is done in first world nations.

Earlier this month, police and prison officers stayed away from duty to “rest and reflect” in opposition to stalled negotiations for better remuneration packages, causing a partial shutdown of the courts. Morgan said yesterday it was not industrial action but his officers were utilising their sick days.

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Offline Bourbon

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #272 on: April 01, 2015, 09:28:26 PM »
This laughable really.

I saying this in the context of what I heard lead to this: Years ago I think due to the unavailability of vehicles due to VMCOTT, Amalgamated got the contract to transport prisoners. At 90 million a year. That was the total I heard when somebody explained this to me. Problem is with them being a security company..they need police to escort them. So Amalgamated needs to go to the station...get the police....go meet prisoners...and head down to court.


Would this happen if VMCOTT (a government agency for vehicle repair and management) had prisons trucks in proper working order? Would the powers that be allow this to happen knowing that a contract possibly worth in excess of hundreds of millions to lose out on?
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Offline Bakes

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #273 on: April 01, 2015, 10:02:21 PM »
The Courts need their own security force.  Not to suggest that the US is some paradigm or operations and efficiency, but the system works well.  Typically it's the Marshalls (alternatively, the "Sheriffs" in some jurisdictions) who are responsible for not only courthouse security and courtroom safety, but prisoner transport as well.  This would remove the reliance on the TTPS and put more police officers/constables back where they belong, on the streets.

Offline Bourbon

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #274 on: April 02, 2015, 09:06:50 AM »
The Courts need their own security force.  Not to suggest that the US is some paradigm or operations and efficiency, but the system works well.  Typically it's the Marshalls (alternatively, the "Sheriffs" in some jurisdictions) who are responsible for not only courthouse security and courtroom safety, but prisoner transport as well.  This would remove the reliance on the TTPS and put more police officers/constables back where they belong, on the streets.
Right... From what I gather prison officers originally did the transport and escorts. This situation arose because their vehicle fleet wasn't maintained and apparently never replaced since. Ridiculous.
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus ;with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #275 on: April 03, 2015, 05:11:03 AM »
The Courts need their own security force.  Not to suggest that the US is some paradigm or operations and efficiency, but the system works well.  Typically it's the Marshalls (alternatively, the "Sheriffs" in some jurisdictions) who are responsible for not only courthouse security and courtroom safety, but prisoner transport as well.  This would remove the reliance on the TTPS and put more police officers/constables back where they belong, on the streets.
Right... From what I gather prison officers originally did the transport and escorts. This situation arose because their vehicle fleet wasn't maintained and apparently never replaced since. Ridiculous.

Replace the vehicles??  Why??  And a man could make $90 million a year and grease some government official's hand in the process??......Bourbon, Bourbon....please.....
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Offline Flex

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #276 on: April 04, 2015, 01:52:26 AM »
12 COPS IN HOT WATER
...charged with burning suspect in police station
By Mark Bassant
CCN Senior Multimedia Investigative Journalist


THE 12 police officers allegedly involved in pouring hot water on a detained suspect at Sangre Grande Police Station in late February, and arrested by officers of the Professional Standards Bureau, last Sunday were charged last night following instructions issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), according to reliable police sources.


The Professional Standards Bureau is charged with the responsibi­lity of investigating allegations of misconduct against officers in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.


Among the officers charged are an acting inspector, a sergeant, an SRP sergeant, three acting corporals and six constables (including one WPC).


Some of the charges the officers allegedly involved in the incident could face include occasioning actual bodily harm, beating by assault, misbehaviour in public office, and perverting the course of justice.


The story was exclusively reported by CCN TV6 and the Express two days after the incident occurre­d.


The majority of the police officers charged were held at Sangre Grande Police Station, while others were arrested at their homes in Sangre Grande, Biche and Rio Claro.


One police officer was found hiding in the ceiling of the dormitory at Mayaro Police Station.


The arrests stemmed from an incident involving Andrew Lewis, the victim, from Boystown, Sangre Grande, who gave himself up to police at the Sangre Grande station on February 25 for questioning in a house-breaking and larceny matter.


Present during his interrogation were an acting inspector, an acting corporal, two police constables and a woman constable.


The Express was told Lewis refused to budge when questioned about the alleged crime involving the theft of a weed whacker.


Certain police officers then allegedly stripped Lewis naked, heated a bowl of water in the microwave oven and then threw the boiling water on his lower extremities and stomach.


Sources say Lewis’s injury may have been aggravated by something he had on his body—a small piece of metal inserted in the foreskin of his penis known as a domino, a sex enhancemen­t device.


The metal melted with the heat, causing further injury.


Following that, the five officers who were allegedly involved in the actual incident were transferred out of the station to remote police stations in Toco, Manzanilla and Mayar­o.


However, senior police sources reliably informed the Express the Professional Standards Bureau threw a wider net during their investigations, and discovered that immediately after the incident several other officers who had knowledge of it refused to report the matter.


Sources say this included an acting corporal who spoke with Lewis in the holding cell mere minutes after the incident occurred, but he refused to report the matter, even as Lewis implored his intervention.


The police officers are expected to appear before a Sangre Grande magis­trate on Tuesday.

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Offline Deeks

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #277 on: April 04, 2015, 01:26:18 PM »
Wow, a domino effect. Actually this kind of behavior is nothing new.

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #278 on: April 08, 2015, 01:54:27 AM »
Why protect ‘wicked’ police?
By Alexander Bruzual (Express).


It was a chaotic scene outside the Sangre Grande Magistrates’ Court yesterday morning as dozens of persons gathered on the roadway in front of the courthouse to catch a glimpse of the 12 police officers who are charged with their alleged involvement in burning a prisoner with hot water in late February.

Screams of “Don’t hide them!”, “Let them walk out!”, “Why are you protecting them wicked officers so?” echoed throughout the scene yesterday, even while officers of the Eastern Division Task Force, under the supervision of Senior Supt Sacenarine Mahabir, lined the entrance to the First Court where the 12 officers were expected to appear.

Woman SRP Giselle Skeete, acting Insp Kenneth Rampersad, acting Cpl Allan Khan, PC Anil Mootoo, PC Keron Nanan, PC Joel Boodoosingh, SRP Ryan Williams, PC Ashki Charles, PC Marvin Mendosa, SRP sergeant Glen Elder, acting Cpl Ravi Doon, and Cpl Nicholas Vialva, all appeared before Magistrate Alexander Prince at the Sangre Grande First Court.

Skeete, Rampersad, Khan, Mootoo, Nanan, Boodoosingh, Williams, Charles, and Mendosa, were charged with misbehaviour in public office.

Elder and Doon were charged with perverting the course of public justice.

Charges against these 11 were laid indictably and they were not called upon to enter a plea.

Vialva, however, was charged summarily for failing to act after receiving information.

He pleaded not guilty to this charge.

The arrests of the police officers on March 29, stemmed from an incident involving Andrew Lewis from Boystown, Sangre Grande, who gave himself up to police at the Sangre Grande Police Station on February 25 for questioning in a house-breaking and larceny matter.

The Express was told Lewis refused to budge when questioned about the alleged theft of a weed whacker and it was alleged the accused police officers then stripped Lewis, heated a bowl of water in a microwave oven and threw the boiling water on his lower extremities and stomach, burning him in the process.

The State was represented yesterday by attorney Richard Taylor.
Taylor will be representing the interests of the State until a prosecutor can be appointed to oversee the matter.

Attorneys Shade Lee Duprey, Patrick Godson Phillips, and Shivan Jadoo represented the interests of the accused.

The attorneys all successfully made applications for their clients to be granted reasonable bail but Magistrate Prince did so under the conditions that none of the accused persons go near the virtual complainant (Andre Lewis), staying at least 100 metres away from him at all times and even his home. Other conditions were also implemented.

Sgt Vialva was granted bail at $20,000, due to the nature of the allegation laid against him.

The other 11 accused were all granted bail at $250,000 each.

Representatives for all the accused, said to be relatives, all stood behind them when they were called to be granted bail. They were previously out on station bail.

The matters were adjourned to May 5.

By this time, a large crowd had gathered outside of the Magistrates’ Court hopeful to see the officers as they exited the building.

Several of these persons levied claims of police brutality against officers who were stationed at the Sangre Grande station and the officers who were before the court, and they loudly professed that they hoped that the police would “get their just due”.

As a result of the large crowd on the roadway, which had begun to affect the free flow of traffic on the street in front of the court house, a decision was made by senior officers in the Eastern Division to utilise two heavily tinted police vehicles to transport the accused officers from the court house.

This came under heavy protests from citizens gathered outside the courthouse who declared that they too should be granted similar rights to “hide from the public” if they were ever brought before the courts.

“Why they getting any special treatment? Shame! When they claim somebody do something wrong they want to put those persons faces all over the news and papers, yet when it’s one of their own they trying to hide them? Na man! How is that fair?” asked one of the persons gathered outside the building.

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Offline Flex

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #279 on: April 08, 2015, 01:55:40 AM »
$2.5M BAIL FOR 12 COPS
By DARCEL CHOY
Wednesday, April 8 2015


TWELVE police officers were yesterday granted a total of $2,520,000 bail by a Sangre Grande magistrate before whom they appeared to answer charges arising out of an alleged incident in which a man was burnt with hot water while in police custody.

The 12 officers made their way into the courthouse under the protection of an unusually large number of their colleagues — some armed with machineguns — while a large, angry crowd of onlookers looked on. Many in the crowd demanded that the accused officers be made to walk out of the court in handcuffs like normal accused persons.

“Let them walk out!” was the chant which was picked up by some in the crowd who gathered outside the courthouse waiting to get a glimpse of the 12 accused officers who were charged in connection with the alleged burning of then prisoner, Andre Lewis, with hot water at the Sangre Grande Police station in late February.

Those who gathered outside the court expressed their anger over what they believed to be special treatment for the 12 accused officers as opposed to the usual treatment when handling civilians charged with crimes.

When the officers were leaving the court, two heavily tinted vehicles drove to the back of the courthouse to collect the accused 12 — an act not normally accorded to civilians who face the courts on criminal charges.

Some persons who were waiting under a tent outside the courthouse for their matters to be called or for court matters of their loved ones to be called, shouted, “shame!” as heavily armed officers surrounded the vans as they drove out.

One man noted that when he was arrested and charged, he was not allowed to be taken out of the court in a heavily tinted vehicle. “That not fair at all, why should they get special treatment? Because they are officers,” the man asked. Earlier in the courtroom, an unusual amount of officers gathered, looking on at the proceedings. The 12 officers appeared before Magistrate Alexander Prince in the Second Court in two groups to answer charges. Nine of the 12 officers appeared first and included SRP Constable Giselle Skeete, Ag Insp Kenneth Rampersad, Ag Cpl Allan Khan, PC Anil Mootoo, PC Keron Nanan, PC Joel Boodoosingh, PC Ryan Williams, PC Ashki Charles and PC Marvin Mendoza. Prince read out the charge to each of the officers individually. Prince then called a family member of each officer who stood their bail to come forward. The nine officers were granted $250,000 bail each with special conditions.

These conditions included that they (the accused officer) shall not communicate directly with the virtual complainant (Andre Lewis) and they shall not go within100 metres of the virtual complainant or his home. Lewis was not present in court.

Appearing later were Sgt Glen Elder, PC Ravi Doon and Sgt Nicholas Vialva. Elder and Doon were charged with perverting the course of justice, also on February 24. These two were each granted $250,000 bail with the same conditions given to the first batch of nine accused officers.

Vialva was charged with failing to act pursuant to a report of a serious crime being committed on the said date. This was a summary offence and when asked to plead, Vialva said he was not guilty. He was granted $20,000 bail with a surety.

The charges facing the 12 officers stemmed from an alleged incident in which Lewis of Coronation Road, Upper Sangre Grande, was detained under suspicion of being involved in criminal activities. He was detained on February 24 at the Sangre Grande Police Station.

It is was further alleged that Lewis refused to cooperate and was stripped naked with a bowl of water which was heated in a microwave oven being thrown on his stomach and groin. Lewis subsequently made a report at the same station where he was beaten and burned while in custody. He was taken to the Sangre Grande District Hospital where he was treated for first and second degree burns. The 12 accused officers were represented by attorneys Patrick Godson-Phillip, Keith Jadoo and Sade Lee Duprey. The officers’ matters were adjourned to May 5. It has been reported that the virtual complainant is in protective custody.

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #280 on: April 15, 2015, 02:43:48 AM »
Murder accused complains about police treatment
T&T Guardian


Exactly one week after 62-year-old La Horquetta resident Stephen Vialva was beaten to death in a scuffle outside his home, his roommate appeared in court yesterday charged with murder.

Michael Jones, 58, was not called upon to plead to the charge when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Indrani Cedeno in the Arima First Court.

Jones is accused of murdering Vialva in front of Vialva’s sister’s home at Aldwyn Roberts Crescent, La Horquetta, Arima, where he and Vialva shared a room. The two men, one armed with a knife and the other a hammer, were reportedly arguing over a woman. Before Jones was remanded into custody and the case adjourned, his lawyer Fareed Ali raised several issues which arose while his client was in police custody over the past week.

Ali claimed police refused to give Jones the medication he was prescribed for serious head injuries he sustained in the altercation. Ali also claimed investigators convinced Jones to give a statement before they contacted him (Ali) on Jones’ behalf. He also said he (Ali) was not allowed to have private meetings with his client throughout his stay at the La Horquetta Police Station.

Cedeno chastised the police for failing to assist Jones in obtaining proper medical attention for his wounds and for denying Ali private access to his client. She also ordered that Jones be medically examined as soon as he was admitted to the Remand Yard facility at the Golden Grove Prison, Arouca. Jones will reappear in court on May 12.

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #281 on: April 16, 2015, 01:58:55 AM »
Misbehaviour in public office, mistreatment of prisoner in police custody
By Alexander Bruzual (Express)


FOUR COPS CHARGED

Four police officers are expected to appear before a Tunapuna magistrate today to face charges of misbehaviour in public office and for mistreatment of a prisoner while in police custody.
This development comes less than two weeks following the appearance of 12 police officers before a Sangre Grande magistrate on similar charges.
This incident, however, is said to have taken place on August 30, 2014, at the St Joseph Police Station and involved the alleged maltreatment of a male suspect while in custody of the police.
According to police sources, in this incident officers of the St Joseph Police had received a report of a stolen vehicle and a party of officers had been dispatched to conduct enquiries.
The officers had cause to intercept a white Nissan Tiida motor vehicle and had detained a young suspect who was in the car.
The suspect was taken to the St Joseph Police Station, where he was questioned and allegedly beaten by several officers.
A report of this incident was subsequently made and investigations were launched by the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) under acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Harrikrishen Baldeo and supervised by acting Superintendent Gregory Renwick.
As a result of these investigations, the four police constables, identified as Dave Ramkissoon, 37, Sean Hutchinson, 29, Gary John, 26, and Aquilan Baptiste, 26, all of the St Joseph Police Station, were yesterday morning slapped with two charges of misbehaviour in public office and mistreatment of a prisoner.
The charges were laid by Insp Eric Parks of the Tunapuna Police Station after consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Ramesar: Disheartening

Speaking to the Express yesterday, president of the T&T Police Service Social and Welfare Association Insp Anand Ramesar said these arrests were disheartening for him and his membership.
“Me personally and the membership, from communications the executive has received, are hurting over this incident and over what has happened. Hurting not in the context that we are against these officers being charged. Far from it.
“We are hurting over the fact that these men and women have decided to commit such acts that are simply betraying the values and principles for policing that we are sworn to uphold.
“At the same time, though, we are glad that the process is in place to filter out any officers who experience shortcomings in their roles as policemen and women, and we are pleased that the said processes are bearing results,” Ramesar said.
The association president also said with these arrests, he hoped the management of the TTPS would “take note” and put things in place for “quality policing” in this country.
“It can’t be business as usual in the TTPS for the management. Because what we are seeing is the management taking the gamble of taking police constables straight out of the training academy and, within six months to a year of service, are putting them in units which need officers who have actually demonstrated value for policing.
“And then we have issues which the association has deemed as failures of the assessment process. Because at the end of the day, it a process which is only being done four times a year, which we think is unacceptable. It should be more frequent. This is especially the case where, at the end of the day, we have a situation where in less than two weeks, we have 16 officers before the courts following allegations of misbehaviour,” Ramesar said.
The State was represented yesterday by attorney Richard Taylor.

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Re: Cops in T&T.
« Reply #282 on: May 04, 2015, 03:55:03 AM »
Don’t give up on TT cops
T&T Newsday
Monday, May 4 2015


Governments in Trinidad and Tobago, within the past 15 years or so, have not had the will power to address the crime situation, prominent Presbyterian minister Reverend Daniel Teelucksingh said last Saturday.

Officiating at a one-year memorial service to commemorate the life of slain Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal at the Aramalaya Presbyterian Church, Tunapuna, Teelucksingh said the failure of governments to comprehensively address crime was one of his “great disappointments.”

“No government in power has really had the will power to deal with the question of crime and government means the whole Parliament,” he said.

“I am not only talking about the administration in power (People’s Partnership). I am talking about all of them coming together, looking at the laws that are weak, trying to clear up all the loopholes in the law. “We have not done it and they spend so much time quarrelling with one another and our people are suffering by the thousands.”

Teelucksingh, a former independent senator and close family friend of the Seetahals, said there were answers to the problem of crime.

“We have brilliant minds and many of them are here,” he said alluding to the slew of attorneys, judges and magistrates present at the service to honour Seetahal’s legacy.

Seetahal, 59, was gunned down on Hamilton Holder Street, Woodbrook during the early hours of May 4 , 2014, while en route to her One Woodbrook Place apartment. Her killer remains at large.

Teelucksingh said the time had come for the Government and Opposition to unite in the fight against crime.

“I dare say this because I belong to this society. It is too very sad for us as a people to know that the people in the Parliament are divided over finding a solution to help us solve the crime situation,” he said.

“They have never gotten together. Not the Government and not the Opposition. This is one of the reasons why the solution to solving the crime problem has slipped away from us. Never will they get together because one will say ‘if I support this I will make you look good’ and they forget all the killings.”

Acknowledging the anxieties and frustration of the Seetahal family and the public in seeking closure to the murder, Teelucksingh warned that persons must never lose faith in the Police Service and the Judiciary.

“There must be no loss of confidence otherwise we will be in serious trouble,” he said.

“We must never downgrade our justice system. If other people want to do that, its is their right but we must rally around our Judiciary and Police Service.”

President Anthony Carmona headed a list of dignitaries at Saturday’s memorial service. Among the attendees were Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, retired Justice Amrika Tewarie-Reddy, Police Complaints Authority Chairman David West and his predecessor Gillain Lucky.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #283 on: May 27, 2015, 02:02:36 AM »
2 policemen held for DUI bribery
By Nalinee Seelal (Newsday).
Wednesday, May 27 2015


TWO male constables assigned to the Central Division were detained at their workplace on Monday by officers of the Professional Standards Bureau and taken to the Port-of-Spain CID where they remained detained up until late yesterday.

The officers who are both in their twenties were expected to be placed on identification parades last evening. It is alleged that the two were on duty at St Helena Junction on May 2, when they stopped the driver of a car and ordered that he undergo a breathalyser test. The driver of the vehicle reportedly failed the test and claimed he was asked to hand over $600 to the two officers to forego prosecution.

The man also alleged that he was taken to a police station in the Central Division where he was again asked to undergo another breathalyser and again made to pay another $600. In his statement to the officers of the Standards Bureau he also alleged that he was taken by the two officers to an ATM in the Central Division and forced to withdraw $800.

That money he claimed was given to the two officers. The man was then allowed to go free but alerted the E999 officers who took his report and the matter was referred to head of the Central Division, Snr Superintendent Johnny Abraham.

Snr Supt Abraham advised that the matter be referred to the Professional Standards Bureau and an investigation was launched. Newsday understands that the station diary where the two officers worked were seized and CCTV footage obtained from the ATM where the alleged incident occurred.

On Monday senior officers gave instructions for the two officers to be detained. The two constables have vehemently denied all allegations levelled against them and have given statements claiming that the driver made false accusations.

Sources at the Professional Standards Bureau told Newsday that following the ID parades the matter will be referred to the Office of the DPP for directions in the matter. The two detained constables were visited by their respective attorneys yesterday and they were allowed to meet with their relatives.

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #284 on: June 26, 2015, 02:04:50 AM »
Acting CoP suspends Seales, orders probe: I acted with a clean heart
By Geisha Kowlessar (Guardian).


Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams yesterday suspended secretary of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association Insp Michael Seales for apparently talking out of turn and bringing the service into disrepute but he says he did so with a clean heart.

Williams suspended Seales from duty one day after he said on a television talk show that Government was attempting to provoke the police so that a state of emergency could be declared in order to delay the September 7 general election.

A full-scale probe has also been ordered into the comments made by Seales and Assistant Commissioner of Police Deodath Dulalchan has been appointed to conduct the investigation.

In a brief interview yesterday, Williams said he ordered the suspension after a lot of careful consideration.

In defending his decision, Williams said: “I stay on the side of being conservative. I am not a radical.”

A release from the Police Service yesterday said Seales’ suspension arose as a result of an allegation of serious misconduct. 

Seales had also claimed the Government was using the current wage negotiations with the Police Service to frustrate officers and to force them to react so there would be a reason to call a state of emergency. 

“The fact is that the intelligence coming to us at the association is that there is a concerted effort to bring a situation about that they provoke the membership of the Police Service so that the membership will react outwardly,” Seales had said.

But urging officers not to be “duped” by the ploy, he added: “And so let me say publicly and appeal to the membership: Please do not be duped into doing anything foolish because the reason why we are saying that is because we are hearing that there is a position to provoke the police so they can call a state of emergency to delay the election.”

He had made the statements while he and the association’s president, Insp Anand Ramesar, were guests on TV6’s Morning Edition with host Fazeer Mohammed.

On Wednesday, the association suddenly cancelled a press conference which it had called earlier in the day to deal with salary negotiations with the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) for the period 2011 to 2013. The media was given no explanation for the sudden cancellation.

Pressed then for a comment, Seales only said that “circumstances changed suddenly.”

The sudden cancellation comes just two days after CPO Stephanie Lewis had cancelled her weekly Tuesday morning meeting with the association, saying she had nothing new to offer them beyond her 14 per cent proposed wage increase.

Calls to Seales’ phone went unanswered yesterday.

Griffith shows support

Interim Political Leader of the Alliance of Independents (AOI) Gary Griffith has thrown his full support behind acting Commissioner Stephen Williams, commending him on his decision to suspend Seales for what the AOI described as an irresponsible and reckless statement.

Griffith said Seales’ statement was a continuation of a series of “imprudent acts and public statements” made by a few representatives of the Police Social and Welfare Association which had done little to foster and develop a stronger bond between the public and members of the Police Service.

“These statements come on the heels of the 'Day of Total Policing,' which caused undue hardship to thousands of citizens and a virtual shutdown of the main arteries of the capital,” Griffith said.

“Whilst we recognise and understand the role of the Police Social and Welfare Association, we must be aware that a firm and decisive line must be drawn between what is considered responsible and irresponsible behaviour.”

He added that responsible behaviour was even more important by those who were charged with upholding the law.

“Further, the constant public interrogation of the Commissioner of Police only adds to the perception of an undermining of his authority and adds to the already challenging issues of public confidence,” Griffith said.

One of the roles of the Police Service, he added, was to ensure a sense of calm and stability among the population.

But Griffith said a representative of the association suggesting he has intelligence a state of emergency could be pending as an attempt to stall a constitutional general election had done just the opposite of the role of maintaining order.

“And hence this statement must be condemned at the highest level and the person who made such a dangerous allegation, which equates to a sitting Government attempting to affect our democracy, must immediately submit any shred of evidence to justify this allegation,” Griffith added.­

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #285 on: June 28, 2015, 04:55:25 AM »
Senior cop: A cancer that has spread
T&T Newsday


A senior police officer who spoke to Sunday Newsday on condition of anonymity said the situation in the entire Enterprise area was allowed to get out of control because police failed to eradicate the scourge of drugs and guns in the troubled community years ago.

He said, “This didn’t start today, you know and right now we are frustrated as it is totally out of hand. Many of them (police officers) have retired and gone home and today this is what we are up against.”

Describing the situation as “a monster created years ago in Central”, the police officer said criminals in the area were allowed to buy and sell drugs in Bhagaloo Street and the guns were to enter Enterprise without being touched.

“Right now is like Bhagdad in Crown Trace and Bhagaloo Street. Walking through those areas you will find endless bullet casings on the street which tells you how much shooting goes on in there.”

Sunday Newsday was told that the reason the war has started all over again was because one man who for years had been a soldier of the main drug lord in the area, decided to branch out on his own. “This man (name called) had been running a drug block for years and one of his main men (name called) decided to go and open his own block and therein lies the problem. Right now, they want to shut down that block and the man is fighting for his own safety.”

Continued the police source:

“‘N’ fighting his own war — is a case of who block making more. What the gangs do is come out and fire several shots and call police on each other.”

Muslims and Rastas carry around more firepower than police officers, the senior officer also told Sunday Newsday.

“They have AR 15, UZIs, Galils, walkie talkies — they have their own command centres set up and they are able to be ahead of us all the time. They have a well co-ordinated unit.”

On several occasions, officers said when they respond to calls they often meet roads blocked with debris.

“In Connection Drive in Bhagaloo, that is a narrow road, imagine going in there and meeting the road block with old fridge, barrels car parts strewn all in the road so police cannot pass.

Officers going into the hot spot is almost like going on a suicide mission,” the officer said. He said too, that whenever they go in these troubled areas, they are often referred to as “outside police.”

“And they call us that because they have been left alone for too long, it never used to be that way before. I would say it is a cancer that has spread. It is known that some officers in this division are close with the Muslims and Rastas. What we need in Central is the help from officers from other divisions in a covert operation to crack down on the area. If not, things will only get worse,” he declared.

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #286 on: July 01, 2015, 02:20:11 AM »
Cops cost TT million$
By AZARD ALI (Newsday).


THE ACTIONS of police, first in the arrest of several alleged gang leaders during the State of Emergency (SoE) back in 2011 and the tasering of prisoners while in custody at a police station have cost the State over $1 million following two successful lawsuits brought by persons against the officers.

In one case, the State lost its first lawsuit for wrongful imprisonment of alleged gang leaders during the 2011 SoE and has been ordered to pay one man deemed by the authorities as being a gang leader the sum of $400,000.

Over 600 alleged gang leaders and gang members were arrested during the limited SoE in August 2011 in parts of the country considered crime hot spots. Justice Joan Charles handed down a historic ruling yesterday in which she held that in the case of alleged gang leader Kevin Stuart, police had fabricated evidence against him.

Commenting on the ruling, attorney Kevin Ratiram who argued the malicious prosecution case, declared the judgment as a victory for the rule of law. Newsday was told that with Stuart’s victory, a floodgate of litigation by more than 600 persons arrested during the SoE could take place, leaving the State vulnerable to paying out tens of millions of taxpayers’ dollars.

Charles ruled that Stuart’s constitutional rights were breached as he was arrested merely on suspicion of being involved in gang-related activity and by virtue of the fact that he had a previous conviction for marijuana possession.

The Anti-Gang legislation was enacted in 2011, to deal with criminal gang activity. In August of that year, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar declared a State of Emergency, when intelligence gathered by the Special Branch, revealed a plot to assassinate her.

After the men spent entire month in jail, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard went to the Port-of-Spain and San Fernando Magistrates’ courts to tell magistrates that the State could offer no evidence against the men and they should be released.

Stuart was arrested on August 27, 2011, and released on September 29, under Section 5.1 (a) of the Anti Gang Act. He spent 34 days in jail without bail on the charge of being a member of a gang.

Charles awarded Stuart special damages of $1,800, with interest at the rate of three percent. The State is to pay Stuart $300,000 in general and aggravated damages, plus exemplary damages of $50,000. The judge ordered that the State also pay cost.

Ratiram said the judge’s award was a lesson that even during a State of Emergency, the police cannot act as a law unto itself.

3 men tasered by police

In an unrelated case, a High Court judge described as horrific, the tasering of three accused men while they were in custody at the Chaguanas Police Station. The court heard in a lawsuit that the three were placed in barrels of water and shocked with taser guns.

This amounted to torture, stated Justice Andre Des Vignes, who awarded the men over $700,000 which the State must pay. Judgment was handed down yesterday in an 81-page ruling, in which the judge detailed how on March 11, at 8 pm, brothers Ricardo Youk-See, Randy and Kairon Baptiste, drove into SuperPharm at Price Plaza in a Nissan Sentra car.

Police officers dressed in task force uniform, were at the time conducting surveillance in Price Plaza, for car thieves. Youk-See, Randy and Baptiste were arrested and taken to the CID section of the station on suspicion that they were car thieves. Upon checks being made it was discovered that two of them had pending charges. The three men alleged in their lawsuit that the police grabbed them with one shouting, “allyuh is gunman and car thief...we go deal with allyuh. We will show allyuh how Central police does do it.” They were handcuffed and dragged into a room at the side of the station.

They claimed in their lawsuit that they were kicked and slapped by eight policemen, who forced them to sit in barrels of water. They claimed, “One of the police officers came into the room with a taser gun which he referred to as “mammy”. The first and second claimants (Youk-See and Randy), were thrown in a barrel of water and electrocuted several times with the taser gun. Baptiste was held down by other officers who struck him in the belly, back, hands, groin and genitals with a golf club. He was also shocked with a taser gun.

One of the officers then brought out another taser gun which he referred to as ‘daddy’, and said, “feel big daddy now because mammy ain’t doing nothing.”. They were kept in a cell from 2.30 am on March 12, until March 14, when they were released without being charged.

The State defended the lawsuit in a trial before DesVignes, in which police officers gave evidence and the three accused men also testified. Attorney Kent Samlal and Abdel Mohammed argued the case for the men.

In his ruling, Des Vignes stated that the conduct of the police officers at the station was arbitrary, oppressive and unconstitutional. The judge stated, “The claimants were subjected to horrific treatment by the police while in custody at the station, which included threats to kill them; severe beatings by the police officers and shock to their wet bodies with an electric taser, which, in my opinion, amounted to torture.” The judge awarded a total of $763,914.25 to all three men.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #287 on: August 11, 2015, 02:05:10 AM »
Ramesar happy cops getting new guns...
By Rhondor Dowlat (Guardian)


Long overdue

The T&T Police Service (TTPS) has signed a multi-million dollar deal with a firm to equip all police officers with some of the latest and hi-tech guns to even the playing field against the criminal element.

Two of the main guns to be purchased include the SIG PRO and the SIG Sauer P226 Pistol. The latter—SIG Sauer P226 Pistol—will be assigned to every “ordinary” police officer in the TTPS, while the SIG PRO will be assigned to officers in the Special Branch Unit, the T&T Guardian has been told.

According to a source who wished not to be identified, the new guns will replace the present ones being used in the service, which include the Smith and Wesson and M&P 9mm, which is similar to the Glock pistol.

The source added that Special Branch had already been issued with the new SIG PRO firearms.

“That particular weapon is used by counter-terrorism specialist firearms officers, hence the reason it was assigned to the Special Branch Unit,” the source said.

Contacted for comment on the matter yesterday, Social and Welfare Association president Anand Ramesar said the acquisition of new guns for officers was long overdue.

“The association has been clamoring for this change long time now and I am giving my total endorsement and support to the Commissioner of Police on this move,” Ramesar said.

Ramesar said he was part of a team that attended a demonstration and exhibition on the use of the guns last month.

“I believe it was from there everything may have happened. The firearms we have now are very much outdated and what you find is that when it goes defective it has to remain defective because the parts of the firearms are not accessible,” he added.

Ramesar said some of the guns being used by the TTPS date as far back as the early 1970s.

“These new firearms appear to be superior to what we have now but in the long term the cost of it will be worth it,” he said.

Asked if there were any concerns about the disposal of the firearms which will be replaced, Ramesar replied: “There are no concerns because we believe that there are sufficient mechanisms in place to discard our firearms.”

Asked if there were concerns that the “old” firearms would end up on the streets and in the hands of gang members, he replied: “We are not concerned of this either because we never had a problem with our firearms ending up in the wrong hands out there. They all will be destroyed properly.”

Contacted yesterday, acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams laughed as he said: “I cannot comment on such information for the public out there.”

However, Minister of National Security Carl Alfonso said purchasing the new guns was deemed necessary to enhance the service.

“It is all for obvious reasons... new assets, whether it be arms and vehicles, it is all in the effort to enhance the TTPS,” Alfonso said.

He pledged his continued support to the TTPS and promised if given a second term in office he would ensure his ministry gave whatever was needed to the TTPS.

“Whatever they think they need or want to improve the service they will have my full support,” he said.'



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Offline lefty

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #288 on: August 11, 2015, 08:53:15 AM »
cool now are all going to be fired and their ballistics records, so that police weapons can be identified should they end up in the hands of criminals for some reason. other than that the move to standardize police equipment across the service is a good step forward
« Last Edit: August 11, 2015, 08:55:21 AM by lefty »
I pity the fool....

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #289 on: September 13, 2015, 08:42:02 AM »
VIDEO Report; https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153574323465610/

Quote
The police service says it's doing all it can to build a stronger, intimate and caring relationship with the residents of Beetham Gardens, Laventille. The Inter Agency Task Force Hearts and Hands Community Outreach is part of this effort.
Ian Wason tells us about the officers visit to Beetham on Friday evening.

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #290 on: September 20, 2015, 09:39:01 AM »



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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #291 on: September 20, 2015, 01:02:13 PM »
He definitely doesn't care for the top cop job and it shows in his performance.
De higher a monkey climbs is de less his ass is on de line, if he works for FIFA that is! ;-)

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #292 on: October 02, 2015, 07:52:43 AM »

VIDEO Report; http://www.tv6tnt.com/sevenpm-news/-POLICE-BUDGET-WISHLIST-2808-330352541.html

Quote
National Security is under heavy scrutiny with the rise in crime and with the budget only a few days away many are anxiously waiting to see how funds will be allocated including the Police Social and Welfare Association. The Association's President Inspector Anand Ramesar is hoping that along with the new government and a new spending plan a new way of managing the TTPS will be implemented.

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #293 on: October 16, 2015, 12:09:30 AM »

VIDEO Report; https://www.facebook.com/CNC3Television/videos/10153695172117996/

Quote
POLICE OFFICER MONTGOMERY GUY LAID TO REST

49-year-old Montgomery Guy a police officer with 13 years' service was given a military send off today. Guy was shot and killed last week Sunday in St James while plying his taxi.

As Jannelle Bernard tells us, Guy was remembered today as a man of honour by his family and colleagues.

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #294 on: November 05, 2015, 05:16:36 PM »

VIDEO Report; https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153674535195610/

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For yet another time, prison officers have threatened to withhold their service if they do not get meaningful protection. This latest call by the Prison Officers Association follows the assassination of Superintendent of Prisons, David Millet, who was gunned down near his home in Morvant on Monda

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #295 on: November 06, 2015, 10:28:38 PM »
 I have a song fuh allyuh

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/a4CZSullLvM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/a4CZSullLvM</a>
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Your Knowledge is directly related to your potential income.
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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #296 on: December 14, 2015, 02:22:34 PM »

WATCH REPORT; https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153743735525610/

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A police officer attached to the St Joseph Police was killed along with another man on the Aranguez Main this morning. According to reports gunshots were heard in the area around 5:30 am and the bodies of the men were found in a car near Halaal Kitchen sometime after. Police are still conducting enquires we will have more details soon

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #297 on: January 01, 2016, 08:49:16 AM »

North Eastern Division seizes 112 guns for year

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20151231/news/north-eastern-division-seizes-112-guns-for-year

With the recovery of a hand-held firearm in Morvant on Wednesday night, the North Eastern Division has recovered 112 weapons for 2015.

This number is just two short of the 114 firearms recovered by police officers of the Northern Division.

However, while the North Eastern Division may not have attained the “top spot”, its outgoing divisional commander, Senior Supt Radcliffe Boxill, wished to thank all the men and women who worked under his command for the past year.

“With last night's exercise, we've recovered 112 firearms. This is a high number, especially when you bear in mind that this division is one of the smaller divisions in the country. So to reach this number, it shows an exceptional piece of work by the men and women in this division, and I would really like to thank them.

“They gave me a lot of support, took instructions, showed initiative when they could and were just generally outstanding officers and did their best to try and keep crime down in the jurisdiction.

“I would also like to give special thanks to all the Special Reserve Police officers who are stationed in the division, as we would not have been able to do all the things we did this year without their assistance.

“When we experienced crime spikes and things looked like they could leave the service, they really held it down and aided with the 24/7 hotspot patrols. Their efforts went a long way this year in suppressing crime, so they must be recognised,” Boxill said.

As of Monday, Boxill will be heading the Port of Spain Criminal Investigations Department.


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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #298 on: January 15, 2016, 07:45:46 AM »
COPS IN JAIL
By JADA LOUTOO (Express).


SI X police officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force are today in jail after bail was refused by the Chief Magistrate before whom they all appeared yesterday on a total of 46 misbehaviour charges of threatening to charge several persons with criminal offences, holding them against their will and robbing at least two of the victims of almost $.3 million in cash and jewelry.

As the officers made their way into court and later out of the courthouse, when the case was heard and adjourned, each had their faces and identity shielded by large towels or jerseys. They were all handcuffed.

The six policemen who were charged late Wednesday evening by WPC Greer Britton-Lawrence and PC Marcano of the TT Police Service’s Professional Standards Bureau — appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court, just before midday.

Ayers-Caesar had to stand down the matter on the first occasion as the two officers who charged their colleagues were not present in court.

Even when she proceeded with reading out the charges against the six, the two complainants still did not put in an appearance to the ire of the chief magistrate, who described it as a disrespect to the court to lay charges and not attend court. The six officers — Dion Ottley of Bon Air Gardens, Arouca; Steve Williams of Heights of Guanapo; Brandon Thompson of Seeyjagat Trace, Tumpuna Road, Arima; Ryan Grandison, of Tunip Lane, La Horquetta; Ronald Samuel, of Duncan Trace, San Juan and Kevon Patrick of By-Pass Road, Arima — were not immediately granted bail and are to return to court next Monday when the chief magistrate will rule on whether she will accede to the application of the defence, or will have them remanded for the 120 days before they can be granted bail, in accordance with the Bail (Amendment) Act of 2015.

The six policemen were supported by family members as well as members of their unit; most of whom were in their NEDTF uniforms. The granting of bail was strongly objected to by police prosecutor Insp Winston Dillon who said his opposition was supported by the Bail (Amendment) Act of 2015. He reminded the chief magistrate that the officers were armed with firearms when they committed the alleged acts.

The officers showed no emotion when the chief magistrate indicated that she will rule on their bail applications on Monday, which meant they would be remanded to the prison until that time. Their attorney Robert Vince Charles asked that the arrangements usually implemented for the remand of serving police officers be ensured, since his clients had “locked up many of the criminals” currently on remand in prison.

Earlier, Charles reminded Ayers-Caesar that his clients were before her on the presumption of innocence, and urged that she not fall for the “mischief ” created by the Bail (Amendment) Act of 2015, and punish the officers who were only carrying out their duties as serving members of the TT Police Service.

He said they were not on a criminal frolic, but on legitimate police business “armed” with the “tools of their trade.”

‘WE OWE THESE MEN’

“These are men of good character...

In fact we owe them a debt of gratitude for putting away many criminals,” Charles said, as he asked the chief magistrate to acknowledge that the 120 day no bail provision of the Bail (Amendment) Act was intended to target criminals carrying out crimes with unlicenced firearms, and not these policemen, who were in possession of their police-issued weapons.

According to Charles, if bail is denied it will send the wrong message that policemen cannot conduct their duties as they may face jail for 120 days, if someone makes an allegation against them.

The legislation restricts bail for a period of 120 days if a person is charged with an offence during commission of which a firearm was used or in his possession.

According to the charges, it is alleged that Ottley on December 13, 2015, while at the Santa Cruz Police Station did an act intended to pervert the course of justice by making a false entry in the North Eastern Division Task Force station diary, that on the previous day (December 12) he and other officers conducted an exercise at Tapin Street, Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz, and seized a pair of camouflage trousers in which six rounds of .38 special ammunition were found wrapped in a red towel in the side pocket, as well as a white plastic bag containing 13 packets of cocaine.

He was also charged with perverting justice by failing to deliver the items to the Forensic Science Centre, or providing a reasonable excuse for not doing so. Ottley alone is charged with those offences. Ottley, Williams and Grandison are alleged to have misbehaved in public office by threatening to charge Mark Rampersad with possession of cocaine, a firearm and marijuana on December 12, 2015, at Frederick Settlement, Caroni.

They also allegedly made similar threats to Farial Rambarath and Lolita Ramdawan, also on the same day at Caroni. Each of the three officers were charged separately.

On the same day — December 12, 2015 — the three police officers allegedly misbehaved in public office by robbing Rampersad of $125,000 and $55,000 in jewelry at Arbuckle Street, Caroni.

According to that charge, the officers were armed with a firearm and used personal violence against their alleged victim.

Constables Williams, Thompson, Samuel and Patrick are alleged to have misbehaved in public office at Kelly Village on January 5, this year, by making threats to charge Mary Duncan, Peabo Duncan and Kimberly James with possession of cocaine. Those four are further alleged, on the same day, to have robbed Peabo Duncan of $53,000 in cash and $4,400 in jewelry. They were also alleged to be armed with a firearm, used personal violence and falsely imprisoned, and held against their will, the two Duncans, James and a person named Stephen Waldron.

As the six accused men were leaving the courthouse, each were each handcuffed while they were being escorted into the van to be taken to the prisons. Each of the six accused had their head covered with towels or t-shirts to sheild their faces from media photographers.

Appearing for Grandison was attorney Sterling John.

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #299 on: January 15, 2016, 07:57:06 AM »
COPS IN JAIL
By JADA LOUTOO (Express).


SI X police officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force are today in jail after bail was refused by the Chief Magistrate before whom they all appeared yesterday on a total of 46 misbehaviour charges of threatening to charge several persons with criminal offences, holding them against their will and robbing at least two of the victims of almost $.3 million in cash and jewelry.

As the officers made their way into court and later out of the courthouse, when the case was heard and adjourned, each had their faces and identity shielded by large towels or jerseys. They were all handcuffed.

The six policemen who were charged late Wednesday evening by WPC Greer Britton-Lawrence and PC Marcano of the TT Police Service’s Professional Standards Bureau — appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court, just before midday.

Ayers-Caesar had to stand down the matter on the first occasion as the two officers who charged their colleagues were not present in court.

Even when she proceeded with reading out the charges against the six, the two complainants still did not put in an appearance to the ire of the chief magistrate, who described it as a disrespect to the court to lay charges and not attend court. The six officers — Dion Ottley of Bon Air Gardens, Arouca; Steve Williams of Heights of Guanapo; Brandon Thompson of Seeyjagat Trace, Tumpuna Road, Arima; Ryan Grandison, of Tunip Lane, La Horquetta; Ronald Samuel, of Duncan Trace, San Juan and Kevon Patrick of By-Pass Road, Arima — were not immediately granted bail and are to return to court next Monday when the chief magistrate will rule on whether she will accede to the application of the defence, or will have them remanded for the 120 days before they can be granted bail, in accordance with the Bail (Amendment) Act of 2015.

The six policemen were supported by family members as well as members of their unit; most of whom were in their NEDTF uniforms. The granting of bail was strongly objected to by police prosecutor Insp Winston Dillon who said his opposition was supported by the Bail (Amendment) Act of 2015. He reminded the chief magistrate that the officers were armed with firearms when they committed the alleged acts.

The officers showed no emotion when the chief magistrate indicated that she will rule on their bail applications on Monday, which meant they would be remanded to the prison until that time. Their attorney Robert Vince Charles asked that the arrangements usually implemented for the remand of serving police officers be ensured, since his clients had “locked up many of the criminals” currently on remand in prison.

Earlier, Charles reminded Ayers-Caesar that his clients were before her on the presumption of innocence, and urged that she not fall for the “mischief ” created by the Bail (Amendment) Act of 2015, and punish the officers who were only carrying out their duties as serving members of the TT Police Service.

He said they were not on a criminal frolic, but on legitimate police business “armed” with the “tools of their trade.”

‘WE OWE THESE MEN’

“These are men of good character...

In fact we owe them a debt of gratitude for putting away many criminals,” Charles said, as he asked the chief magistrate to acknowledge that the 120 day no bail provision of the Bail (Amendment) Act was intended to target criminals carrying out crimes with unlicenced firearms, and not these policemen, who were in possession of their police-issued weapons.

According to Charles, if bail is denied it will send the wrong message that policemen cannot conduct their duties as they may face jail for 120 days, if someone makes an allegation against them.

The legislation restricts bail for a period of 120 days if a person is charged with an offence during commission of which a firearm was used or in his possession.

According to the charges, it is alleged that Ottley on December 13, 2015, while at the Santa Cruz Police Station did an act intended to pervert the course of justice by making a false entry in the North Eastern Division Task Force station diary, that on the previous day (December 12) he and other officers conducted an exercise at Tapin Street, Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz, and seized a pair of camouflage trousers in which six rounds of .38 special ammunition were found wrapped in a red towel in the side pocket, as well as a white plastic bag containing 13 packets of cocaine.

He was also charged with perverting justice by failing to deliver the items to the Forensic Science Centre, or providing a reasonable excuse for not doing so. Ottley alone is charged with those offences. Ottley, Williams and Grandison are alleged to have misbehaved in public office by threatening to charge Mark Rampersad with possession of cocaine, a firearm and marijuana on December 12, 2015, at Frederick Settlement, Caroni.

They also allegedly made similar threats to Farial Rambarath and Lolita Ramdawan, also on the same day at Caroni. Each of the three officers were charged separately.

On the same day — December 12, 2015 — the three police officers allegedly misbehaved in public office by robbing Rampersad of $125,000 and $55,000 in jewelry at Arbuckle Street, Caroni.

According to that charge, the officers were armed with a firearm and used personal violence against their alleged victim.

Constables Williams, Thompson, Samuel and Patrick are alleged to have misbehaved in public office at Kelly Village on January 5, this year, by making threats to charge Mary Duncan, Peabo Duncan and Kimberly James with possession of cocaine. Those four are further alleged, on the same day, to have robbed Peabo Duncan of $53,000 in cash and $4,400 in jewelry. They were also alleged to be armed with a firearm, used personal violence and falsely imprisoned, and held against their will, the two Duncans, James and a person named Stephen Waldron.

As the six accused men were leaving the courthouse, each were each handcuffed while they were being escorted into the van to be taken to the prisons. Each of the six accused had their head covered with towels or t-shirts to sheild their faces from media photographers.

Appearing for Grandison was attorney Sterling John.



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