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Author Topic: Cops News Thread.  (Read 74910 times)

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Offline Sando prince

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #300 on: February 02, 2016, 10:48:39 PM »

Prison officers ‘fearful’

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160202/news/prison-officers-8216fearful8217

Despite reports by TV6 News about a Carnival escape plot being thwarted by the actions of prison officers, there was no acknowledgement of this by Prisons Commissioner Sterling Stewart.

Instead, he issued a news release in which he told the media the Port of Spain Prison is safe.
Prison officers, however, feel differently, with some saying they are fearful for their lives.

On the heels of the TV6 expose about a jailbreak plot uncovered by prison officials, Stewart is saying he believes the Port of Spain Prison is now free of “destructive devices and weapons”.
Several attempts were made to contact Stewart yesterday, but there was no response.
Senior prison sources told TV6 News several prison officers were fearful for their lives, even before the alleged plot was brought to light, with some having decided to take extended leave.

This situation, they say, has also been exacerbated by specific gang leaders within the prison, who have allegedly been threatening to kill more prison officers if cellphone jammers are not turned off at nights.

In fact, TV6 News was reliably informed a meeting was held last Friday by senior prison officials to discuss the matter.
According to sources, the weekend search was prompted by information that guns and grenades had been secreted into the prison to facilitate a Carnival weekend escape by three gang leaders, one of whom is on a murder charge.
—with reporting by CCN investigative multimedia journalist Mark Bassant

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #301 on: February 21, 2016, 05:10:02 PM »

Inspectorate 'a welcome addition' *
Govt to set up oversight body to monitor performance of Police Service..


http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160220/news/inspectorate-a-welcome-addition

THE announcement by Government to establish an oversight body to manage and monitor the performance of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is a step in the right direction, stakeholders have said.

Speaking to the Sunday Express last week, National Security Minister Edmund Dillon said the Police Service Inspectorate will be given the responsibility “for quality assurance, quality control, evaluation and measurement of all police stations, the results of which will be reported to Parliament”.

Dillon said the inspectorate will be monitoring the performance of the TTPS “and will also be looking at the different structures within the Police Service”.

On January 15, Finance Minister Colm Imbert told the Senate that $2 million had been allocated to establish the Police Management Agency and the Police Service Inspectorate, in a bid to deal with crime.


Offline Flex

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #302 on: February 25, 2016, 02:50:45 AM »
Cops: Set up youth clubs in all schools
By Jensen La Vende (Guardian).


With the spotlight now on school violence and misbehaving teens, the Police Service (TTPS) is calling on the Ministry of Justice to set up police youth clubs in all primary and secondary schools.

Speaking at the weekly press briefing yesterday ACP Enez Joseph, in charge of community policing, made the call days after two school teens appeared in court charged with threatening their teacher and a security guard.

“We will like to see the Ministry of Education institutionalise and incorporate police youth clubs in all primary and secondary schools and we will like to see greater collaboration among government agencies to more effectively address the issue of school violence,” Joseph said.

She said there were other programmes, such as the city programme, that children who are deemed troublesome could be enrolled in with the aim of turning them into model students and averting prison sentences. She said even a child charged with a criminal offence could be placed in the programme rather than have a conviction recorded.

Joseph said there had been some decreases in criminal activity in some areas perpetrated by teens. In 2015, she said, 45 serious crimes involving students were reported to have been committed in schools, compared to 57 the previous year. Joseph said that reports of criminal offences against teachers and principals for 2015 were 44 while there were 37 such reports the year prior.

She added: “If we include all types of crimes as the minor crimes and minor offences, we had a total of 239 in 2015, down from 280 in 2014. With respect of reports of cyber bullying involving students we had 25 cases in 2015 down from 35 in 2014.

“Of the cases reported in 2015, 15 involved allegations of harassment, five for defamation of character and five pertaining to sexual offences.

“The TTPS acknowledges it has a key role in helping to shape and mold the lives of young people, especially those deemed to be at risk or vulnerable to negative influences which would ultimately redound to the overall good of society. “This focus on youth development, therefore, is part of a long term policing strategy and it is in tandem with one of the goals of the TTPS to be more citizen centred in our delivery of policing services.”

Public information officer ASP Michael Pierre said there were currently 112 police youth clubs with over 10,000 youths.

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

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #303 on: March 01, 2016, 09:04:39 AM »

WE'RE UNDER ATTACK *

Father of murdered prison officer:

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160229/news/were-under-attack

For the second time in less than four months, a prison officer has been murdered near his home, prompting Prisons Commissioner Sterling Stewart to declare “we are under attack”.

This time 32-year-old Fitzalbert Victor Jnr, aka “Simon” , was shot multiple times by an unknown assailant at his home in Prizgar Lands, Laventille.

The killing has pushed the murder toll for the year to 86, compared with 60 for the same period last year.

According to police reports, Victor, who had ten years of service, was washing his black Nissan X-Trail motor vehicle in the yard of his home about 6 a.m. when he was approached by an armed assailant. It is believed the gunman jumped the wall at the back of the home to spring a surprise attack on the prison officer in the event he was armed.

Several shots were then heard and the assailant was observed fleeing the scene on foot.

Victor was said to be have been shot about seven times.

Online soccerman

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #304 on: March 01, 2016, 11:43:53 AM »
I remember a video surfaced a few months ago with some inmates threatening prison officers lives....not sure if this is related but the way things are I will not be surprised.

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #305 on: March 15, 2016, 03:17:13 PM »

A policeman is on the run after he allegedly stabbed a woman and her cousin on Ariapita Avenue, Woodbrook early Saturday morning. The 25-year-old woman who was stabbed in her back and her cousin who was stabbed in his abdomen are said to be in critical condition at Port-of-Spain General Hospital.

https://www.facebook.com/cnewslive/videos/10153943650250610/

Offline Flex

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #306 on: March 21, 2016, 12:17:26 AM »
Mom of murdered boy: I begged police for help.
By Radhica Sookraj (Guardian).


Forced to go into hiding after witnessing a contraband deal, 14-year-old Darian Nedd finally met his death yesterday, after two men chopped off his limbs with a cutlass and then set fire to his home, leaving him to die.

The Form One student, of Red Brick Trace, attended the Siparia East Secondary School. His charred, dismembered body was found around 12.30 am, amid the ruins of the wooden house. His right foot and left hand were missing. It is uncertain whether he was still alive when the house was set on fire.

Up to late yesterday, police had held a 25-year-old man for questioning. They were also searching for two other suspects. Investigators said Nedd had an ongoing dispute with some men who accused him of being an informant.

Nedd’s mother, Christine, who sells oysters at Otaheite Junction, said she was not at home when the fire started. Christine said she made several reports to the Oropouche police,  begging for assistance to save her son.

However, police never arrested the suspects. “My son hiding for months now. He went to live with (name called) but because he had school he came back last week,” Christine said. She explained that hours before his death, Nedd cut the grass around their home and played marble pitch.

“He was happy. We didn’t think this was going to happen,” Christine said.

She explained that Nedd loved to fight with his seven-year-old sister Victoria Pekhoo. “Yesterday was the only day I did not quarrel with him. He used to be there, helping me with the oysters. Now he is gone,” Christine said, as tears ran down her swollen eyes. She said around midnight when she finished work, she got news that her home was on fire.

Her cousin Mitra ran to the house and called out to Nedd but it was only when the flames subsided that they found the body.

A witness, who requested anonymity, said two men were seen throwing flambeaus inside the house which is situated off a bumpy track at the end of Red Brick Trace, behind the SM Jaleel factory. A blood-stained cutlass was also seen at the side of the house but this was hidden before the police came, the source added. Neighbours said they did not know what happened as they were not at home. Nedd’s elder sister Kristie Benjamin said they made several reports of threats to the Oropouche police.

“Now everyone is living in fear. My brother was like my child. I used to do everything for him when he was a baby,” Kristie wept. Detectives from the South Western Division Task Force yesterday combed through the Otaheite region, searching for the suspects. The police helicopter was also used in the search.

An autopsy will be done at the Forensic Science Centre in Port-of-Spain today.

Investigations are continuing.

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

Online soccerman

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #307 on: March 21, 2016, 09:42:44 AM »
Wow, just horrific...14 years old too.

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #308 on: April 04, 2016, 10:25:16 PM »

BREAKING NEWS: Policeman shot in the head by robbers

A policeman responding to a robbery in St Clement's was shot in his head on Monday night.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160404/news/breaking-news-policeman-shot-by-robbers

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #309 on: June 23, 2016, 04:01:58 PM »

Insp Seales charged: gets $75,000 bail*

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160622/news/insp-seales-charged-gets-75000-bail

Almost a year after he was suspended for allegedly making seditious comments while on a television show, Insp Michael Seales has appeared before a Port of Spain magistrate to answer charges related to this incident.
Late Tuesday, Seales received information that the investigation in which he was the subject had been completed and that a team of officers led by ACP Deodath Dulalchan had visited the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for instructions on how to proceed.




Offline boss

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Robocop shot dead
« Reply #310 on: July 17, 2016, 06:35:03 PM »
'Robocop' shot dead
Published on Jul 17, 2016, 7:23 pm AST
Trinidad Express

Enterprise businessman Selwyn "Robocop" Alexis was gunned down at his car wash Sunday afternoon.

Alexis was at his businessplace at Freedom Street, Enterprise, when unknown suspects shot at him. Two other men, including one of the assailants, were killed.

Eyewitnesses say at about 4.44 p.m., a car pulled up and men armed with shotguns and rifles came out and began firing shots. Robocop and his friend identified as Kevin Escayg, were killed.

One of the assailants was also shot and killed. His identity is still unconfirmed. Escayg's five year old son Kirchard was also injured.

He remains warded at hospital.

An Express reader was caught in traffic when word came of Selwyn 'Robocop' Alexis murder

There was a heavy police presence along Freedom Street and Railway Road in Enterprise after the incident, CCN TV6 reported.

Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial last night called for a lockdown of the area “as residents are fearful of reprisals”.

Over the years Alexis has faced the court on several charges including murder and kidnapping.

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Robocop shot dead
« Reply #311 on: July 17, 2016, 06:36:15 PM »
How many will really shed tears for Robo?

Anyway ah see it here first

https://www.facebook.com/CNC3Television/posts/10154377367887996
.
« Last Edit: July 17, 2016, 09:35:42 PM by Sando prince »

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Robocop shot dead
« Reply #312 on: August 27, 2016, 01:19:53 PM »

Offline Flex

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #313 on: April 27, 2017, 01:49:33 AM »
Cops seize cops’ phones
By NALINEE SEELAL (NEWSDAY)


THE cellular phones of eight police officers, from Constable to Executive rank, have been seized by Professional Standards Bureau officers investigating the leak of a confidential memo which outlined the Central Division police anti-crime plan for the recent long Easter weekend holiday .

Police executed warrants on the officers who were ordered to hand over their cell phones. While some readily complied, others resisted before eventually handing over their phones. They claimed their phones contained sensitive information both of a personal and professional nature .

Officers are now examining the contacts list, jpeg images, voice notes, video recordings and WhatsApp content of the phones as part of their investigation .

The highly confidential memo, compiled by Division Head Snr Supt Kenny McIntyre, contained information pertaining to anti- crime initiatives including roadblock exercises, raids, mobile and foot patrols to be undertaken by officers within Central Division between the extended Easter weekend, from Holy Thursday straight to Easter Monday .

The memo detailed the number of officers designated to carry out a specific task in a specific location and also the time of the activity .

The memo was leaked to social media on April 13. Several officers from this division have already been interviewed including Snr Supt McIntyre who said the leak was very embarrassing to the Police Service and forced him to restructure the Easter weekend anti- crime plan .

McIntyre told investigators this was a serious breach which, had it gone undetected, could have placed the lives of officers at risk as the criminal element would have had been ready and waiting for officers .

Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams is being kept abreast of the status of the ongoing investigations which Newsday understands is close to being completed and could see several officers facing disciplinary action .

Contacted yesterday for comment, Snr Supt McIntyre said he heard, “through the grapevine” that officers’ cell phones were seized. “If that is true, I have no problem because that type of behaviour (leaking of the memo) cannot be tolerated at all,” the top cop said .

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

Offline Sando prince

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Offline Flex

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #315 on: March 29, 2019, 04:32:53 AM »
Gary: 300 suspended cops still being paid
By Peter Christopher (Guardian).


State foots $50m bill

OFFICE OF THEPARLIAMENT

Com­mis­sion­er of Po­lice Gary Grif­fith is look­ing to clamp down on the long list of of­fi­cers serv­ing in­def­i­nite sus­pen­sions due to crim­i­nal charges not­ing the state is pay­ing some $50 mil­lion an­nu­al­ly on these of­fi­cers.

He re­vealed his plan dur­ing a Joint Se­lect Com­mit­tee deal­ing with the ex­pen­di­ture and in­ter­nal con­trols of the Trinidad and To­ba­go Po­lice Ser­vice (TTPS) for the fi­nan­cial year 2018-19 at the Par­lia­ment build­ing yes­ter­day.

“We must nev­er see the Trinidad and To­ba­go Po­lice Ser­vice as be­ing an av­enue where you can ben­e­fit from be­ing in­dis­ci­plined,” said Grif­fith, who con­firmed that over 300 of­fi­cers were on sus­pen­sion with pay de­spite fac­ing crim­i­nal charges.

He said some of the of­fi­cers had been sus­pend­ed with pay for al­most a decade but due to le­gal ram­i­fi­ca­tions these of­fi­cers can­not sim­ply be dis­missed from the ser­vice.

“We have in­tel­li­gence (which) can give the po­lice ser­vice the con­cern that a po­lice of­fi­cer should not be in the po­lice ser­vice be­cause he is a breach to na­tion­al se­cu­ri­ty. You can sus­pend him but you can­not fire him be­cause that same po­lice of­fi­cer now will take you to court and show me the ev­i­dence that (you have used) to fire me,” Grif­fith said.

He said when tak­ing in­to ac­count salary pay­ments and le­gal fees sur­round­ing these cas­es, over $500 mil­lion had been paid in re­la­tion to the sus­pend­ed of­fi­cers over a 10-year pe­ri­od.

He point­ed out that while the state was bear­ing these costs, many of these of­fi­cers have since used their in­def­i­nite sus­pen­sion pe­ri­od to find oth­er op­por­tu­ni­ties while still on the TTPS pay­roll.

“Some of them we have al­ready con­firmed, some of these of­fi­cers have mi­grat­ed. Sev­er­al of them are work­ing else­where and get­ting dou­ble salary.

“So my in­ten­tion is for those who have been sus­pend­ed in­def­i­nite­ly, we need to ver­i­fy whether we have enough in­for­ma­tion to war­rant a tri­bunal,” Grif­fith said, not­ing he was at­tempt­ing to ad­just the le­gal sys­tem with­in the TTPS to al­low for the dis­missal of these of­fi­cers through a tri­bunal in a time­ly ba­sis.

“Each and every­one we in­tend to deal with and fast track, to en­sure that po­lice of­fi­cers would ei­ther be brought back to du­ty, the sus­pen­sion would end or they are sus­pend­ed with a spe­cif­ic time­line as to how long the sus­pen­sion would be or they would be fired,” said Grif­fith.

“There are sev­er­al in­stances as well where there is enough in­for­ma­tion based on the tri­bunal that can war­rant that po­lice of­fi­cer be­ing fired.

“This will en­sure po­lice of­fi­cers are aware that there are con­se­quences. There will be con­se­quences for your ac­tions and you can­not try to beat the sys­tem and find loop­holes in the crim­i­nal jus­tice sys­tem.”

He said grant­i­ng of­fi­cers con­tracts was an op­tion which could be used to root out tru­ant of­fi­cers.

Grif­fith said this ad­just­ment would bring some bal­ance to man­pow­er con­cerns with­in the po­lice while al­so re­duc­ing costs in­curred by the po­lice ser­vice an­nu­al­ly.

“This is in fair­ness to the cit­i­zens, to the po­lice of­fi­cer and to the po­lice ser­vice.

“It is in­ap­pro­pri­ate that you have a sys­tem of 300 po­lice of­fi­cers in just 7,000 that are on sus­pen­sion in­def­i­nite­ly,” said Grif­fith, who re­vealed that the TTPS was in debt of $47 mil­lion as it was still pay­ing bills from the fis­cal year 2017 -2018.

“We have re­cur­ring ex­pen­di­ture.

“As at this time, we have not re­ceived any­thing for fis­cal year 2018/2019, apart from the salaries.”

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 Thread.
« Reply #316 on: April 10, 2019, 12:31:59 AM »
$700,000 bail for 7 cops charged with conspiracy to defraud Toyota
T&T Guardian Reports.


Sev­en po­lice of­fi­cers ap­peared at the Port-of-Spain First Mag­is­trates’ Court, be­fore Mag­is­trate Marista Gomez to­day on Tues­day, charged with var­i­ous counts of con­spir­a­cy to de­fraud and oth­er of­fences.

The of­fi­cers were pros­e­cut­ed as fol­lows:

* Ag. Cpl. Mar­vin Bas­combe, 42 with 20 years of ser­vice and for­mer Chief Clerk of the Snr. Supt. Traf­fic of­fice was charged with four counts of con­spir­a­cy to de­fraud Toy­ota; his bail was set at $100,000.

* WPC Nicole Steven, 40, the Rev­enue Clerk at the said of­fice with 5 years of ser­vice was charged for eight of­fences; four counts of con­spir­a­cy to de­fraud Toy­ota and four counts of mak­ing false and er­ro­neous state­ments on du­ty sheets in breach of the Pre­ven­tion of Cor­rup­tion Act. She was placed on $120,000 bail.

* WPC Amoy Black­ette, 30, the As­sis­tant to the Rev­enue Clerk with four years of ser­vice was charged with one count of con­spir­a­cy to de­fraud Toy­ota, her bail was set at $80,000.

* WPC Ker­ri Ann Alexan­der, with four years of ser­vice was charged with one count of con­spir­a­cy to de­fraud Toy­ota, her bail was set at $80,000.

* WS­RP Van­da O’Neil, 32, was charged with two counts of con­spir­a­cy to de­fraud Toy­ota, her bail was set at $120,000.

* W/SRP Liz Fran­cis, 36, of Lewis Lane San­ta Cruz was charged with one count of con­spir­a­cy to de­fraud Toy­ota, her bail was set at $80,000.

* W/SRP Moni­fa David, 25, was charged with three counts of con­spir­a­cy to de­fraud Toy­ota, her bail was set at $120,000.

On var­i­ous days dur­ing the pe­ri­od June 7th 2018 to 27th Sep­tem­ber 2018, sev­er­al mem­bers of staff of the Chief Clerk’s of­fice at the Snr. Supt. Traf­fic en­gaged in an ac­tiv­i­ty where in­stead of billing Toy­ota an hourly rate to per­form ex­tra du­ties to es­cort new mo­tor ve­hi­cles from the port of Port-of-Spain to Toy­ota’s of­fice in Barataria, the of­fi­cers mul­ti­plied the ac­tu­al num­ber of hours per­formed by the num­ber of trips made dur­ing the pe­ri­od.

This re­sult­ed in to­tals of some­times 36 and 24 hours per day.

The scope of the con­spir­a­cy widened to avoid at­tract­ing sus­pi­cion by fur­ther dis­trib­ut­ing and doc­u­ment­ing the ad­di­tion­al hours on ex­tra du­ty pay sheets to re­flect oth­er days when Toy­ota did not have any ex­tra du­ty es­corts.

A re­port was made by Toy­ota to the Pro­fes­sion­al Stan­dards Bu­reau (PSB) and in­ves­ti­ga­tions were con­duct­ed.

On com­ple­tion the Ag. DPP Joanne Hon­ore Paul gave ad­vice and on Mon­day 8th April 2019 the PSB con­duct­ed an ex­er­cise and ar­rest­ed sev­en mem­bers of staff of the Snr. Supt. Traf­fic of­fice.

All po­lice of­fi­cers se­cured bail and the cas­es were ad­journed to Tues­day 7th May, 2019.

The in­ves­ti­ga­tion was con­duct­ed un­der the lead­er­ship of ACP Ag. To­taram Dookhie and in­clud­ed Cpl Lawrence Joe­field who laid all the charges.


Seven police officers have appeared in court charged with conspiracy to defraud Toyota. The seven officers were placed on bail amounting to $700,000.

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

Offline maxg

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #317 on: May 14, 2019, 10:59:48 AM »
So who shipped and who received...Shouldn't be in newspapers yet, if at all
https://newsday.co.tt/2019/05/14/guns-found-at-pos-port/

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Re: Cops in T&T Thread.
« Reply #318 on: January 27, 2020, 05:37:08 PM »
TTPS gets 10 horses from Holland
T&T Guardian Reports.


The Trinidad and To­ba­go Po­lice Ser­vice (TTPS) has re­ceived ten warm­bloods hors­es from Hol­land.

The hors­es ar­rived last Fri­day and were hand­ed over to the Mount­ed Branch.

These hors­es, which have al­ready been trained, are now in quar­an­tine.

Af­ter their ac­clima­ti­za­tion and fur­ther train­ing, the hors­es will be de­ployed for pa­trol, es­cort du­ties, and in the fight against crime.

Warm­bloods are a group of mid­dle-weight horse types, and breeds pri­mar­i­ly orig­i­nat­ing in Eu­rope, and reg­is­tered with or­ga­ni­za­tions that are char­ac­ter­ized by open stud­book pol­i­cy, stud­book se­lec­tion, and the aim of breed­ing for eques­tri­an sport.

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 Thread.
« Reply #319 on: February 11, 2020, 03:39:37 PM »
CoP: We will probe rogue police
BY SHANE SUPERVILLE (NEWSDAY).


The day after two police officers were held in relation to human trafficking, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said the police will be going after all criminals, both in and out of uniform.

Speaking with Newsday on Tuesday, Griffith said the police were not above reproach, and vowed to go after rogue police officers. He also said there were elements within the police service that sought to undermine him by forming ties with criminals.

Referring to over 300 officers who have been suspended for suspected misconduct, Griffith said he intended to use his authority to expedite these cases and fire those found guilty of crimes.

"No one is above the law," he said. "Police officers are human, they come from society and our society is not perfect but our police must operate at a much higher standard, which is why anything even remotely close to this will not be accepted in any way. This year is what we will continue to do, the more information we get from the public is the more we will be able to target, investigate and charge. "Once I hold this chair as the Commissioner of Police there will be no covering up in any way. I have the authorisation to hire, fire and suspend and I will not have police officers suspended indefinitely. It has cost the taxpayers over $50 million per annum and we are getting nothing in return.

"Very soon you will see I take a firm approach to officers who have embarrassed the police service and committed acts of indiscipline, it gives me the authorisation through the tribunal to have them fired or suspended."

Griffith said it was difficult for a police officer who was charged for a violent crime to justify keeping him in the service.

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 #320 on: February 12, 2020, 12:08:05 PM »
Police kill gunmen at murder victims’ home
T&T Guardian Reports.


Cen­tral Di­vi­sion po­lice fa­tal­ly shot a 25-year-old man yes­ter­day dur­ing a search at the home of last week’s dou­ble-mur­der vic­tims Cindy Joseph and Kadeem Eli­jah.

The man was iden­ti­fied as Nigel An­toine, 25, from Rich­plain, Diego Mar­tin.

Ac­cord­ing to re­ports, the of­fi­cers went to the house at Hill­top Dri­ve, Spring­vale in Clax­ton Bay to ex­e­cute a search war­rant for firearms and am­mu­ni­tion.

When they ar­rived at the house around 6 am, they met An­toine at the house.

As An­toine tried to es­cape, he shoved one of the of­fi­cers and opened fire. The of­fi­cers took cov­er and re­turned, fa­tal­ly wound­ing An­toine. His firearm was re­cov­ered and of­fi­cers found a quan­ti­ty of am­mu­ni­tion in the house. Po­lice said An­toine was known to them and was prob­a­bly hid­ing in the area.

Joseph, 33 and her com­mon-law hus­band, Eli­jah, 19, were shot dead at the house last Thurs­day. Joseph’s 11-year-old son was struck by a bul­let in the right leg. He is re­cov­er­ing at the San Fer­nan­do Gen­er­al Hos­pi­tal.

Po­lice said the cou­ple were asleep in their bed­room around 1.15 am when gun­men en­tered and ex­e­cut­ed them. Neigh­bours said they heard the gun­shots and saw three men run­ning from the house.
In an­oth­er ex­er­cise, Cen­tral Di­vi­sion po­lice ar­rest­ed a 57-year-old man for pos­ses­sion of a firearm and am­mu­ni­tion on Sun­day.

A re­port stat­ed that PCs Val­ley and Bram­ble re­spond­ed to a re­port of a man armed with a firearm at Nim­blette Street, En­ter­prise in Ch­agua­nas. On ar­rival, the of­fi­cers saw a man and ques­tioned him.

He then took of­fi­cers to his Nim­blette Street home, where they found a brown and chrome Smith and Wes­son re­volver with five rounds and one spent shell of .38 am­mu­ni­tion in the liv­ing room. The man was im­me­di­ate­ly ar­rest­ed.

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 News Thread.
« Reply #321 on: February 19, 2020, 08:44:29 AM »
Police officer detained after shooting girlfriend
T&T Guardian Reports.


A po­lice sergeant is now in po­lice cus­tody for al­leged­ly shoot­ing his com­mon law wife, who al­so is a po­lice of­fi­cer.

Ac­cord­ing to re­ports, at about 10:30 last night, Dale Ram­roop (a 48-year-old po­lice sergeant at­tached to the Princes Town Po­lice Sta­tion) and Nico­lette Per­sad (a 29-year-old po­lice con­sta­ble), were at their home at Mo­hess Road in Bar­rack­pore when they both be­gan ar­gu­ing.

The cou­ple had just re­turned home from at­tend­ing a func­tion.

Re­ports are that a strug­gle en­sued and three rounds of nine mil­lime­tre am­mu­ni­tion were dis­charged from a li­censed Glock pis­tol.

It is al­leged Ram­roop opened fire on Per­sad dur­ing the ar­gu­ment, shoot­ing her in the up­per left of her chest.

The woman po­lice con­sta­ble was rushed to the San Fer­nan­do Gen­er­al Hos­pi­tal where she re­mains ward­ed, and is list­ed in a sta­ble con­di­tion.

Ram­roop has been de­tained for ques­tion­ing.

Two guns and 69 rounds of am­mu­ni­tion were seized at the scene.

Re­ports are the cou­ple were ar­gu­ing over a text mes­sage.



The couple had just returned home from attending a function when they began arguing

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 News Thread.
« Reply #322 on: February 19, 2020, 08:46:06 AM »
Cop shot at home
BY RIA CHAITRAM (NEWSDAY).


THE policewoman who was allegedly shot by her husband at their Mohess Road, Penal, home, on Wednesday morning is out of danger and is in stable condition at hospital.

According to reports, the husband, who is also a sergeant, assigned to the Princes Town CID, got into an altercation with his common-law wife, a constable, over text messages at about 10 pm on Tuesday.

The policewoman was injured in her upper chest.

The sergeant has since been detained at the Barrackpore police station.

Newsday will update this story as information become available.

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 News Thread.
« Reply #323 on: March 03, 2020, 07:42:47 AM »
4 Central Division policemen arrested
BY KEN CHEE HING (NEWSDAY).


Officers from the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) arrested four Central Division officers into reports of attempting to pervert the course of public justice. The arrests were made around 4 am on Monday in the Central Division.

A press release from the TTPS stated that among the officers arrested, are two Acting Inspectors of the Chaguanas Criminal Investigations Department, a Sergeant working in the Chaguanas Major Crimes Section and a Police Constable who works in the Chaguanas Task Force.

One of the arrested officers was held before Carnival on allegations involving human trafficking. The release said that investigations are ongoing.

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Re: Cops News Thread.
« Reply #324 on: March 30, 2020, 03:49:10 PM »
CoP: They will no longer wear TTPS uniforms
JENSEN LA VENDE (NEWSDAY).


POLICE COMMISSIONER Gary Griffith has joined in condemning the actions of police and regiment officers who recorded themselves abusing two homeless men.

In a series of videos, the officers laugh as they give two men each a 50-millilitre bottle of rum.

Speaking with Newsday on Monday, Griffith said he had received “hundreds of messages” condemning the actions of those in the video, who were part of a joint police and army patrol, believed to be along Charlotte Street, Port of Spain.

He said the condemnation was justified, but reminded the public that the actions of the minority should not be used to demonise the entire police service, where “98 per cent” are hard-working.

Griffith said what the videos show is officers abusing their authority, something he assured the public will not happen during the 14-days stay-at-home period.

“We are using CCTV cameras and tracking the GPS of police vehicles to get a location on where that happened.

“This is an isolated incident but when we find it, as Commissioner of Police, I will ensure that those officers no longer wear a TTPS uniform.”

The video also showed a soldier pointing a rifle at one of the men, threatening to shoot him if he did not drink a second bottle “in one go.”

“I feel tonight I go shoot yuh. That’s it here, you will get shoot tonight,” the soldier told the man, who agreed to outrun the police vehicle.

Voices could be heard in the video asking for leniency for the homeless man.

In a media release issued on Monday, National Security Minister Stuart Young said he had spoken with both Griffith and  the chief of Defence Staff about the “inappropriate behaviour.” He added that both agreed that an immediate investigation will begin.

“The behaviour depicted in the videos is condemned in the strongest manner. The TTPS and TTDF will act in a responsible manner and carry out their important roles and duties in this time of stay at home,” Young said.

In a separate release, the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) said it has asked for a report from Griffith as it “intends to monitor and audit the current investigations of the TTPS.”

“The PCA strongly advises all police officers that this type of conduct is to be deprecated” the release stated.

The Defence Force did not comment on the videos. There were rumors that their members involved in the incidents were identified and were being disciplined but that was not confirmed.

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 News Thread.
« Reply #325 on: October 01, 2020, 12:20:13 AM »
4 soldiers detained over theft during DSS raid
By Mark Bassant
Lead Editor, Investigative Desk


Four Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) members were yesterday detained for questioning into video footage showing one of them allegedly stuffing stacks of money into his tactical uniform during the raid on the Drug Sou Sou (DSS) headquarters in La Horquetta last Tuesday.

Several senior investigators said the four men were picked up for questioning by officers of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) of the T&T Police Service after instructions were given by Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith.

Sources familiar with the investigation said they were picked up at Teteron Barracks in Chaguaramas shortly after 2 pm yesterday and taken to the PSB office to be interviewed.

A sergeant, 39, two lance corporals, 30 and 31 and a corporal, 29, who were part of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) raiding unit, were taken in.

Contacted late yesterday, Griffith confirmed the men were in police custody. He said he had been in constant contact with PSB head Senior Superintendent Samaroo and had written to him on September 30 after the footage of the officer had gone viral after it was reported in the media.

Griffith said, “I immediately contacted the head of SORT (Sgt Hernandez), who confirmed that they were not police officers but soldiers from the TTDF.”

The names of at least two corporals were later identified along with their regimental numbers.

“That same morning, I contacted the head of TTDF personnel who work alongside SORT(warrant officer Adams) who also confirmed that the personnel seen in the video were two corporals from the TTDF,” Griffith said.

Senior investigators said they will be awaiting instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the way forward after the interviews.

What might be particularly complicated in this matter, according to a senior source, is “that there was no report made by anyone in the house of any money stolen. If this is so, we have no victim and then there’s no crime.”

There is also the call by the Law Association of T&T for Griffith to investigate whether there was a legal requirement to obtain a warrant before the search on DSS was initiated and claims of abuse by police officers on civilians at the apartment.

Guardian Media understands that several statements have already been taken by PSB officers from civilians who were in the apartment during the raid and SORT officers could also be questioned by PSB personnel.

But the investigations don’t end there. Guardian Media also understands that the Central Intelligence Bureau (CIB) and PSB have also been tasked with a second investigation involving several top-ranking police and army personnel, who, along with others, co-opted others to retrieve the seized money and move it to a safe house. The movements and the phone conversations of these officers are now all under investigation.

A DSS insider familiar with the operations told Guardian Media several days ago that when the seized millions were taken to the La Horquetta Police Station, several telephone recordings involving senior officers with someone inside DSS reveal a deal being brokered to release the money mere hours after it was seized by police.

“I am also directing the investigation of senior officers who released millions without proper procedure. I see this as either incompetence or contributing to a crime. Whichever one, action will be taken,” Griffith said of this aspect of at least three separate probes into the DSS fiasco.

Griffith said the third investigation is being spearheaded FIB to verify the source of the seized funds and to ascertain in some measure the actual amount. As part of that investigation, the bank accounts of law enforcement personnel will also be under scrutiny.

Griffith had said on Tuesday that “based on information coming to hand and my intelligence sources, it cannot be confirmed that it was $22,157,000 million as claimed by officers. It is virtually impossible for us to verify that at this time.”

A DSS insider with knowledge about the company operations said the figure seized by police was closer to $92 million. The source claimed after a deal was struck with law enforcement officers, some $74 million was released to DSS and the other $18m to police and army personnel to be split up for their assistance in releasing the cash.

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 News Thread.
« Reply #326 on: October 01, 2020, 01:27:20 AM »
Quote
What might be particularly complicated in this matter, according to a senior source, is “that there was no report made by anyone in the house of any money stolen. If this is so, we have no victim and then there’s no crime.”

Yet surely there's enough to urge a disciplinary outcome within the TTDF.

More broadly than this incident, there are hefty indications that a psychological assessment or tool may need to be a precursor to military service.

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Re: Cops News Thread.
« Reply #327 on: October 04, 2020, 12:50:40 AM »
DSS names crooked cops who collected money
By Mark Bassant, Lead Editor, Investigative Desk


Since last year, T&T Police Service (TTPS) and T&T Defence Force (TTDF) members have profited more than half-a-million dollars in "hush money" from the Drugs Sou Sou (DSS) operations based at Kathleen Warner Drive in La Horquetta.

Their financial reward was not only for the protection of the DSS operations but for their alleged willingness to facilitate corruption and bribery, according to the information given to Sunday Guardian by key DSS insiders.

In a document, DSS insiders pointed fingers at senior TTPS and TTDF officers, naming them and in some cases outlining in detail their roles in facilitating the multi-million dollar operation which is now the subject of at least three probes by TTPS and TTDF hierarchy, after money seized in a raid on the DSS operation, initially said to be $22 million, was returned to its CEO Kerron Clarke by junior officers of the La Horquetta Police Station without authorisation. Later, a DSS insider claimed police had seized as much as $92 million during the operation.

DSS insiders stated that "... the officers are involved in corruption, bribery and much more. This goes high up the food chain. And it seems as though they are untouchable."

Sunday Guardian understands that the information contained in these documents have also been sent to the police for them to investigate the claims.

The DSS insiders explained the inner details of the police officers' roles in helping to ensure the smooth operation of their venture and thwart law enforcement efforts to uncover and bust it. The officers ensured patrols around the clock for the DSS headquarters and in some instances security there.

"(Name of officer of the TTPS executive called) has been part and parcel of the operation and receiving money as payments (to look out and protect DSS) over the period of 2019 and up to this date (name called) has received $240,000 in cash. Not all at once," the DSS document said.

The DSS insiders disclosed that a particular inspector was very close with the TTPS executive officer when it comes to the running of the DSS operations.

"He would oversee and report back to (executive officer) as time goes by. Inspector (name called) would often have patrols set up on a regular basis to ensure that things run smoothly," revealed the DSS document.

Senior police sources told Sunday Guardian that for years, this particular inspector and a TTPS executive member have been suspected of running other illicit operations inside the police service, including extortion, bribery and money laundering schemes.

Another senior officer whom they believe was instrumental in ensuring that the purported $22 million or $92 million seized from DSS was released from the La Horquetta Police Station two Tuesdays ago, just hours after it was seized in the raid, has also been fingered as a major player in ensuring the DSS operations run smoothly.

"(Name of a senior Northern Division officer called) was also part of this operation from the late part of 2019 up to this date. And he received payments of $83,000 during the period."

But the police officers' complicity does not end there.

DSS insiders claimed senior officers handed down instructions to their juniors.

"Junior officers were also involved in such ranks from sergeants, corporals, and police constables. Inspector (named called) would often have someone (lower-ranked officer) pick up the cash and later on disburse it or in other words split it up," the DSS insiders claimed.

The DSS insiders revealed that "sergeants, corporals and constables were paid on a daily and sometimes on a weekly basis at the amount of $2000-$3000 per day."

They alleged that the inspector used a particular business as a front "to cover most of his money schemes."

DSS insiders stated that two TTPS executive officers who were working together to protect their operations have also been working to undermine Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith.

DSS insiders claimed in the document that "the Commissioner has a mole in his team and he should do due diligence to investigate or even question each of them."

They claimed that they have several phone recordings, videos and photographs that would also be critical in assisting investigators involved in this wide-reaching case.

The document stated, "(TTPS executive officer name called) using the phone number (6******) to have conversations with (TTPS executive officer name called) on (7******). And also (another senior Northern Division officer name called, but phone number not revealed) would have had recent conversations in recent days to undermine the officer of the CoP as soon as he goes on vacation."

Griffith confirmed during last week’s TTPS press briefing that one of the reasons he cancelled his vacation was because they had received intelligence that there was a plot to undermine the service in his absence.

The document further alleged that "phone calls were made to senior TTDF members (one colonel’s name called), three captains (names called), a major and two other seniors (names called)."

The DSS insiders said, "These are all members who are in the cabal."

They did not give further details about the TTDF members but promised that further information about their complicity in the DSS operations would be released in due course.

During the TTPS press briefing on Thursday, Griffith also told the media he cancelled his vacation to ensure the DSS investigation receives his full attention. He said this decision was made after meeting with the Minister of National Security and Police Service Commission (PSC).

Griffith has vowed to bring down corrupt police officers and TTDF members who have been involved in one way or the other in illicit operations surrounding the DSS operations.

Commenting on the matter, Griffith said he appointed DCP McDonald Jacob to lead the investigation. "I appointed DCP Jacob to lead this. The investigation via PSB. The financial via FIB. And the UK team would assist in the legislative arm of the investigation which they are well versed in as it pertains to white collar crime."

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 News Thread.
« Reply #328 on: October 04, 2020, 12:52:23 AM »
UK team goes after police, soldier cartel
DARREN BAHAW (NEWSDAY).


NEW INFORMATION has surfaced during a multi-agency probe against as a "criminal cartel" operating within the ranks of the police service and the defence force which investigators say can cripple the economy.

Intelligence uncovered within the first two weeks after police busted a pyramid scheme in east Trinidad have now linked three politicians to the complex money laundering scheme involving key players of known criminal gangs to wash millions of dollars from various illegal sources.

Probers have found several similar pyramid schemes operating across the country, many operated by soldiers, which distribute thousands of dollars weekly to mainly poor and vulnerable people who see the investment as a golden opportunity to get rich quick.

And to protect the integrity of the police investigation, the matter has been assigned to acting Deputy Commissioner of Police McDonald Jacob and the case will now be referred to EdmondsMarshallMcMahon (EMM), a specialist team of forensic investigators from the United Kingdom hired to crack complex white-collar crime, according to Police Commissioner Gary Griffith.

He said the agents from the foreign team have all been sworn in as special reserve police and will have all the powers of a police officer to conduct the investigation and they have not had any interaction or involvement in any of the sou sou schemes in TT.

EMM was hired by Griffith in 2018 to help the police complete serious fraud cases including allegations of bid-rigging at the Estate Management Development Company, LifeSport, and other high-profile white-collar criminal investigations.

On the eve of the 2020 general election, the multi-million dollar contract was renewed to allow the firm to complete its work on several pending investigations.

Top police sources confirm that a number of officers, who have been identified as being involved in the scheme and facilitated the return of over $22 million which had been seized by the Special Operations Response Team on September 22 at a house in La Horquetta, will be requested to undergo polygraph testing this week and will likely be transferred from their current stations to give investigators unhindered access to information and possible witnesses.

Investigators said after the money was returned to the sou sou operators hours after it had been confiscated they have been unable to pinpoint the new location. They said as intelligence comes in, it is being leaked and the money is moved again.

The foreign team will be assisted by the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) and the Financial Intelligence Bureau to trace the source of the funds and identify the corrupt police and soldiers linked to the scheme and liaise with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as evidence is gathered, according to a high-ranking police source.

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has launched an independent investigation into the conduct of officers who have been identified through wire taps and other sources to the criminal operation. One senior officer who is currently on suspension for an unrelated offence has been identified a key person of interest in the probe.

Seasoned investigators said the scope of the criminal network rings familiar to the findings uncovered by Scott Drug Report in 1986 where scores of officers were identified as being part of a gang operating in the police service trafficking drugs, involved in murder, transshipment of cocaine and other heinous crimes.

One investigator said the current investigation was "worse than police unlawfully killing someone" by the level of cover-up and collusion taking place and seems to justify a statement once made by the PCA director David West that the police service is the "biggest gang" in TT.

According to intelligence reports seen by Sunday Newsday, criminal gangs have pumped millions of dollars into pyramid schemes operated by a a group of soldiers across the country. Many unsuspecting people have invested varying sums for inflated returns and the legitimate and illegitimate money has been mixed and paid out with receipts being given to legitimate investors.

The matter triggered a meeting of the National Security Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, last week and led to the cancellation of the Police Commissioner's month-long vacation.

National Security Minister Stuart Young told Newsday on Thursday that the probe into the sou sou bust were or "major concern" to him and he has been in constant contact with the CoP and Chief of Defence Staff Air Commodore Darryl Daniel.

Daniel has not commented publicly on the allegations involving members of the Defence Force except to issue one release that it was co-operating with the police. Four soldiers who were part of the September 22 La Horquetta raid were detained last Wednesday for questioning after one was seen stuffing an envelope in his crotch but later released pending further investigations.

Police said no one has reported any money missing during the raid, nor has there been any formal report of people being beaten by officers.

There were reports that a woman suffered a miscarriage after she was struck during the raid but no official report had been made about that too.

On Thursday, Griffith said even though there were no official reports, the police intend to look into the allegations and had video footage to support some of the claims. Investigators assigned to the PSB and the PCA have already obtained statements from people who were allegedly assaulted during the raid.

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Re: Cops News Thread.
« Reply #329 on: October 10, 2020, 09:26:07 AM »
2 cops held for $.25m roadblock robbery
By Rhondor Dowlat-Rostant (Guardian).


Two police officers in uniform and using a marked police vehicle allegedly pulled off the daring robbery of over a quarter-million dollars from a courier after setting up a fake roadblock earlier this month.

The officers, an acting corporal and constable, were taken in for questioning on Thursday following an investigation by senior Western Division officers.

According to police sources, the officers had been pointed out in connection with a $250,000 robbery that took place along the Western Main Road in Cocorite on October 3.


The victim, a well-known businessman, who did not want either his name or business identified, confirmed the robbery and the amount stolen to the Guardian Media last evening. 

Investigators were told by the victim that he was robbed by the officers, who were dressed in full uniform and using a marked police car. The officers allegedly took $1,500 in cash that he was carrying on his person, as well an estimated $250,000 he was transporting for his company, which represented money from sales.

Guardian Media understands the officers, who are attached to the Western Division, borrowed a marked vehicle from the St James Police Station to do an “extra duty” and reportedly robbed the courier before actually doing the extra duty.

A police source said the key for the vehicle was usually kept in its glove compartment and is not usually one that is required to be booked in and out in the station’s vehicle logbook. 

It is believed one of the officers took the vehicle from the station and followed the businessman’s courier money collector, who was picking up sales money at the Tunapuna and Port-of-Spain branches of the popular clothing store. The officer picked up the other officer before they proceeded to set up the fake roadblock, where they allegedly stopped the courier and robbed him of the cash. 

The courier made a report to the police station and an investigation led to the arrest of the officers on Thursday - six days after the alleged incident.

PC Phipps is continuing investigations.

Contacted for comment on the issue yesterday, Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith said whilst he wouldn’t comment on an ongoing investigation, he wanted to reassure the public that the police service is being cleaned up of all rogue officers.

“The point being is that this shows the constant activity by the police service in ensuring that we do all that is required to weed out rogue elements in the police service. It is not that we go witch-hunting but nobody is above the law, so where it is people are getting this perception that police will try to protect police, it is not so,” Griffith said.

He said this year’s activity was a continuation of the past two years actions where over 80 officers have been suspended and over 60 officers have been charged for various offences.

“So we are doing all that is required and we will continue to do so. So over the last two years, you speaking about 140-plus officers that have either been suspended based on disciplinary action or charged for offences. So you are speaking about every week a police officer is either suspended or charged in the last two years, so that shows that we do not cover any police wrongdoing.”

Griffith also asked that this latest incident not to be used by the public as an avenue to discredit the police service.

“I will also ask for the public not to use this as an avenue to discredit the police but just the opposite because we are cleaning up the police service. So this should be something that the public should be pleased with, to know that so many police officers are being arrested and if at any time they break the law they will be cleaned up and removed as soon as possible.”

Also contacted yesterday, Police Complaints Authority head David West said they too will initiate a probe into the incident.

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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