Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has commended the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and all law enforcement for saving more than 400 lives and bringing down the murder toll.She was speaking at a reception hosted by Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro at the Police Administration Building, Port of Spain, to commemorate the 64th anniversary of Independence yesterday.Persad-Bissessar commended the protective services, saying their efforts had helped wrest the country from the grip of unprecedented levels of violent crime.The Prime Minister said the country was recording its lowest homicide figure since 2011, while murders, shootings, woundings, robberies and road traffic accidents were all trending sharply downward.She said the figures demonstrated that the crime-fighting strategies being implemented were working and that the TTPS was “regaining control of public safety”.“Between January 2025 and today, there have been 400 fewer murders than were projected to occur due to the great efforts of the ‘rough men’ and women of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. Over 400 of our citizens are alive today because of your efforts. Today we say thank you for your sacrifices,” Persad-Bissessar said.Recalling the famous quote, “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf”, she said police officers had been entrusted with confronting the scourge of violent crime which had gripped Trinidad and Tobago and culminated in a historic high of 629 murders in a single year.She said when Guevarro was appointed Police Commissioner, the Government and population charged him and the TTPS with tackling the crisis.Persad-Bissessar said the results were now evident.She pointed to a 42% reduction in murders in 2025 compared with 2024 and said the current homicide figure was the lowest recorded since 2011.She said woundings and shootings had fallen from 523 to 298, while robberies declined from 1,636 to 876.Road safety figures had also improved, she said, with fatal road traffic accidents down 31%, serious injuries reduced by 35% and minor injuries falling by 33%.Total road traffic accidents were currently trending approximately 42% lower than in 2025.“Serious crime and murders are trending downward in all divisions,” she said.“These figures demonstrate that the strategies being implemented are working, and that the TTPS is regaining control of public safety.”Persad-Bissessar, however, said the statistics did not tell the full story of the personal sacrifices made by police officers and their families.“While most people run away from danger and death, you all run towards both to neutralise threats and save people who will never know the names of those who saved them. You all risk your lives every day and sometimes lose lives in the line of duty while serving the public,” she said.She said behind every police officer was a family forced to live with the uncertainty of whether their loved one would return home safely after reporting for duty.“Your parents, spouses, children, and other loved ones carry the emotional burden of your job, living with the constant worry about whether you will return safely,” she said.The Prime Minister noted that officers routinely sacrificed family time, holidays, weekends, birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations so that citizens could enjoy those occasions in safety.She also highlighted the psychological and physical burden associated with repeatedly witnessing violence, trauma and human suffering.“Even today, while citizens enjoy time with loved ones, officers remain on duty, ensuring they can celebrate safely,” she said.Persad-Bissessar acknowledged that the State of Emergency, recent bomb threats and staffing shortages had placed additional strain on the Police Service, resulting in cancelled days off and long shifts.“I also understand that the state of emergency, unpredictable emergencies like the recent numerous bomb threats and staffing shortages often mean cancelled days off and long, exhausting shifts,” she said.The Prime Minister also mounted a strong defence of police officers against their critics, telling them not to be demoralised by people who, she said, could never understand the dangers they faced.“I know the unwarranted criticism, misinformation and abuse from some cowardly men and women who cower and flee at the sight of danger, I know sometimes hurt and frustrate you,” she said. “The evilest and most cowardly among us always expect the rest of us to live by morals that they don’t possess themselves. Ignore them; they can never step in your shoes to fulfil your roles. When faced with abuse and denigration from those who don’t appreciate you, always remember I respect you, I appreciate you, and I love you.”Persad-Bissessar assured Guevarro and the Police Service that they had the unequivocal support of her administration.Police posts ‘soon’ The Prime Minister fielded questions from the media following the event.The Prime Minister noted the Parliament is set to reopen soon and there will be more legislation to come to tackle crime.Persad-Bissessar said there was an increase of “boots on the ground” with the recruitment drives across the protective services.She said the police posts will be operationalised “soon”.“I want to make sure that everything is working well. So when we open it you will not come to ask me ‘why is the water not running, or why is the electricity?’. So soon, we’ll have them soon,” she added.