A confrontation over a traffic ticket near the Arima Magistrates’ Court last Friday escalated into a police officer discharging her firearm du­ring an altercation involving a driver and her husband.A video of the incident, which went viral on social media, was recorded on the body-worn camera of a Tri­nidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) estate con­stable.The incident prompted debate on social media, with some users supporting the actions of the officers while others questioned whether the use of the firearm was justified.In the footage, which was over four minutes long, the woman police officer is seen speaking with the driver of a black van.After she gave the driver a fixed penalty ticket, the offi­cer instructed the driver to move from the area, saying the vehicle had stopped in a no-parking area.The driver is heard arguing that another officer had instructed her to come to a stop at that location.Another officer then approached the vehicle and engaged the driver.The woman pulled out her phone and began speaking with the officers who then asked for her dri­ver’s licence as she was not complying with a lawful instruction.A man exited the van and began speaking with the officers.While the officers continued to ask for the woman’s licence, she started the vehicle and attempted to drive away.The officers objected and called on the woman to switch off her vehicle.At that point, the woman police officer is seen reaching for an object at her side after which a gunshot is heard.Moments later, officers at the scene were heard commenting on the discharge of the firearm.The couple were arrested following the incident.Former commissioner of police Gary Griffith said the incident reflected wider concerns about alleged abuse of authority by police officers.Speaking with the Express yesterday, Griffith said: “This is not surprising. These are reports that many people are saying are taking place daily throughout the country.”He said citizens who had concerns about police abuse of autho­rity often sought redress through the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), but argued that the body lacked sufficient powers.“The problem is there is very little redress because if any citizen who has a concern about police abuse of authority, they write to the Police Complaints Authority and the PCA do not have powers similar to Internal Affairs in the United States. So all they can do is investigate,” he said.Griffith said the PCA was sometimes “blocked and not supported by the police” and said recommendations made by the authority could be ignored because “there is no obligation on them to treat with it”.He added: “This incident is also exactly why certain persons in the TTPS do not want to have body cameras.”