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alexk
Guest
Two months after a love triangle involving three members of the T&T Police Service (TTPS) left one officer dead and another facing charges, a similar situation has surfaced in the Northern Division. This time, it allegedly involves a senior official, a female officer and her husband, who is also a police officer.
Officers claim the female officer has been acting as the “defacto” head in the division for the past several months because she feels emboldened by an alleged relationship with a senior official. The officers also accused the female officer of racism against Indo-Trinidadian officers.
One of the officers said, “I am scared that (name called) could have me transferred for no apparent reason except that she doesn’t like me or because I am Indian. We have no one we can turn to for help because she has the ear of the seniors. She has done this to several other officers during the recent past and it is now down to race and who she likes.”
The angry officers also complained that all requests for extra-duty were being passed to personnel from other specialist units.
Contacted on the issue, ACP McDonald Jacob said they needed to navigate the situation carefully. He appealed to the aggrieved officers to be mindful of accusing persons without proof, but acceded they would have to investigate the claims to make sure they were not “malicious, vexatious or frivolous.”
“Once we know it is not, then we will appoint an investigator and it will be dealt with in a particular way,” Jacob assured.
He agreed that such situation could demoralise officers, but said, “It is not like if people will just make complaints and we will leave it alone, this can affect the entire running of a division, especially one like Northern Division.”
Another of the officers’ concerns relate to the appointment of a female officer who was previously investigated for financial impropriety.
Although monthly divisional audits are conducted by the TTPS, Jacob agreed that if someone was intent on defrauding them of cash they would find a way to do it.
Asked how well the division, which is led by Snr Supt John Daniel, has been performing, Jacob said, “It is in a good place right now but there is a fear that if we don’t continue doing positive things the division could be adversely affected by a negative turn-around.”
He also appealed to the aggrieved officers to utilise the services of the Police Complaints Division and speak to officials so they can be guided accordingly. He said depending on the nature of the complaints, the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) may also need to get involved.
Jacob said mediation could also be one option to defuse the tense situation.
“Not everything requires some form of disciplinary action,” he said.
On May 2, Sgt Darryl Honore and a colleague were involved in a shootout at Grand Bazaar, Valsayn, allegedly over a female officer who was involved with both men. Honore died four days later at hospital but no charges have been laid against the other officer involved in the incident.