POLICE Commissioner Allister Guevarro said there are no “sacred cows” in the Police Service following the revocation of the appointments of 17 police officers which was announced on Thursday.In a voice note shared yesterday, Guevarro addressed the advisory which announced the names of the 17 officers who were on suspension for various alleged infractions. The 17 are out of the 280 officers who currently remain suspended.
NO ISSUE: ASP Ishmael Pitt
In his statement, Guevarro said that he wanted to “reaffirm a fundamental principle that within this service there are no sacred cows. Police officers are entrusted with extraordinary powers and with that trust comes the duty to uphold integrity, discipline and service to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”He said that when that oath has been broken the consequences will be clear, decisive and impartial.“Let it be a warning that any officer who wears this uniform and engages in criminality will face the full weight of lawful action. I will take every step necessary to remove you from this organisation,” he said.He added that the service remains committed to transparency, accountability and the highest ideals of public service and that they will continue to strengthen their integrity, reinforce public trust and ensure that every officer remembers their duty which is service without fear or favour.“As we advance our zero tolerance approach the public will see a renewed and resolute response to crime,” he said.“My officers will pursue criminals wherever they are found and in this service as all are equal before the law. Remember that my officers will be hunting all criminals and in so doing it will be big gouti, small gouti, same shot. In this service all are equal before the law and all are accountable to the people,” he said.Contacted yesterday on the revocations, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Social and Welfare Association ASP Ishmael Pitt said, “If the Commissioner is exercising his power within the confines of the law, the association can never have an issue with that.”“We support any move to improve the image of the TTPS and address issues of accountability, integrity and ethics,” he said.Pitt noted, however, that the issue they may have was if decisions were being considered “too prematurely.” He said that this is one of the issues the association had in the past as the service may have dismissed officers but it had not been done within the principles of natural justice.He stressed that “once all of these parameters have been met, then the association has no issue.”The TTPS said the officers whose appointments have been revoked are: Tamara Boyce, Vijay Singh, Elliot Chin, Joanne Jadoo, Owen Hem-Lee, Jilann Holder, Kizzy Thomas,Karlon Murray, Christopher Gobin, Michael Alcala, Carlos Thorne, Devon Basant, Akiel Smith, Desron Dillon, Shaun Reid, Joff Awong and Daryl Baksh.
