CoP committed to murdered prison officer case

Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams says he has committed all required resources in pursuit of those who murdered prison officer Glenford Gardener to bring them to justice within the shortest possible time.

In a release, Williams condemned the murder Gardener “in the strongest way.” “The Commissioner of Police, along with the rank and file of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, extend condolences to the relatives and friends of Mr Gardener, as well as to his colleagues within the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service.”

The release noted that Gardener, who had 19 years’ service, leaves to mourn his mother and daughter, who both reside in the US. He worked at the Carrera Island prison and would often ferry officers to and from the island.

On Thursday, Gardener, 44, of Bagatelle, Diego Martin, was shot and killed outside his home around 7.25 pm. According to reports, he was walking outside his house when a white Toyota Corolla pulled up alongside him and the occupants opened fire, hitting him several times. He died at the scene. Also on Friday in an unrelated incident, retired prison officer Gideon Granger was with a friend driving out of Cocorite when the friend’s vehicle was shot at.

Gardener was the 17th prison officer to be killed in the past 15 years and his murder comes less than a month after the killing of prison officer Richard Sandy on October 8. Reports say Sandy, a father of five, was liming at a bar in Gasparillo when he was approached by an ex-convict and shot. He subsequently died at the San Fernando General Hospital.

In response to Gardener’s murder, head of the Prison Officers Association Ceron Richards blamed the National Security Ministry for their failure to address security threats against prison officers and said that was an open invitation for criminals to continue their attacks on members of the protective services. On Friday, the National Security Ministry issued a release condemning the murder and said that attacks against members of the protective services would not be tolerated.