COMMISSIONER QUITS
With crime at its highest ever, Trevor Paul has quit as Commissioner of Police breaking the year-long extension he had to continue to serve as head of the Police Service.
Paul advised the members of his executive of his decision during a meeting at the Police Administration Building in Port-of-Spain on Tuesday.
Sources said Paul felt he had done all that he could to lead the Police Service in its fight against crime, which has risen to unprecedented levels with murders standing at 243 for this year to date.
Paul is expected to leave on Monday and he has already begun to pack his books and personal documents and mementos from his service of over 40 years.
"Monday might be my last day in office. I have done my part and it is time to move on," he told his executive of Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) on Tuesday.
When contacted yesterday, Paul would only say, "When I am leaving office you will know, I will tell you myself."
Paul had been asked to stay on for an additional year as the top cop although his official retirement date was November 9, 2007.
Sources said Paul's decision to break his extension before November is expected to put additional pressure on the Government to get debate moving in Parliament on the appointment of a new Commissioner of Police (CoP).
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has nominated Snr Supt Stephen Williams and had forwarded his name to then acting President Danny Montano more than a week ago. Montano subsequently advised the Clerk of the House of Representatives that the PSC had nominated Williams. Leader of Government Business Colm Imbert informed the House of Williams' nomination last Friday and debate on the CoP candidate is likely to begin at the next sitting assigned for government business which is July 4. Members of the police brass expect ACP James Philbert, who is currently an acting Deputy Commissioner of Police, to act as Cop when Paul leaves next week.
However sources said the PSC is not likely to appoint Philbert to act and may decide to ask ACP Gilbert Reyes, who is also acting as a Deputy Commissioner of Police, to serve as top cop until Williams is either approved by Parliament or a new nominee is selected. The PSC is yet to confirm Philbert and Reyes as Deputy Commissioners of Police.
Philbert, 59, was one of three persons short-listed to be Paul's successor along with Williams and retired New York Police Department captain Louis Vega. Philbert was edged out because he did not pass a polygraph test.
Vega turned down the PSC's offer because his nomination meant he would have to be screened by Parliament, and previous claims that he had altered the crime statistics of his department would have been raised again. Vega was cleared of those accusations.
Reyes, 59, was due to proceed on pre-retirement leave in April but was asked to stay on and is now due to retire in October. Philbert is expected to proceed on pre-retirement leave on December 11.
Sources said yesterday that the PSC will meet on Monday to decide on Paul's replacement.
Paul was asked to remain in office under Section 75 of the Constitution which was amended by the UNC administration to make it possible for a Cop to remain in office after the mandatory retirement age of 60.
Paul enlisted in the Police Service on June 1, 1966, and was appointed CoP on July 15, 2004.
He has been criticised by the Opposition, Government, business groups and the public for failing to put in place measures to deal with the spiralling crime rate.
