Prison officer shot dead

A prison officer was fatally shot while at a pre-birthday lime at a bar in Gasparillo.

Jennifer Sandy, wife of slain Prison Officer I, Richard Sandy, yesterday called on criminals to, “Put down the gun”. The killer, a former prisoner, is said to have walked up to Sandy at 9 pm in the Colonnade Restaurant and Bar on Caratal Road. Shots rang out later.

“Young fellas of Trinidad and Tobago, put down the gun because you all are destroying good families. My husband was a very family-oriented person who loved his kids, loved his wife and you all just come and snatch him away. Just like that...in an instant,” Sandy cried.

Sandy leaves behind five children, ranging in age from two to 24 with the youngest two being with Jennifer to whom he was married for the past 14 years. She spoke outside the family’s Ibis Drive, Pleasantville home.

“Tomorrow (today) was to be my husband’s 47th birthday. His friend Prison Officer Jackson took him for a lime. They say a guy came up to them, an ex-prisoner and pointed a gun at Jackson (who) hit away his hand. My husband, being the mediator; he always try to mediate and calm a situation, tried to talk to the guy but was shot in his leg,” the grieving woman said. Sandy was shot twice.

He was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital he died while receiving emergency treatment. Visiting the family to offer support yesterday was Ceron Richards, president of the Prison Officers Association who urged Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to take swift action to protect the lives of prison officers and all law enforcement officers.

“Over the last decade, over a dozen prison officers have been murdered and yet we have a State that is not acting in the interest of officers’ safety and security. How long must we wait? The PM as Chairman of the National Security Council, has a responsibility and a duty to treat with this matter,” Richards said.