President gets nominees for top cop positions

Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Dr Marie Therese Gomes yesterday met President Anthony Carmona shortly after 7 am and presented the PSC’s nominations for the positions of Commissioner of Police and deputy commissioners.

The order of merit list for CoP contained three names. Sources revealed yesterday that they were retired DCP Glen Hackett, acting CoP Stephen Williams and former National Security Minister Gary Griffith.

It was speculated yesterday that acting DCP Harold Phillip and acting ACPs Mc Donald Jacob and Harikrishen Baldeo are among the nominees for deputy commissioners.

Regardless of the order of the names on the list for commissioner, the House of Representatives can reject or accept the person whose name appears first on the list.

It remained unclear yesterday whether the President has sent the notification to the House of Representatives for final vetting and approval.

Yesterday the PSC issued a press release confirming that it had submitted the list.

The release said, “The submission of the nominations is a major step towards the continuity and stability of the TT Police Service executive leadership and bringing about the transformational and positive changes desired within the organisation.”

The candidates who vied for the open positions underwent a process to determine their suitability for the roles that included psychometric testing, panel interviews, scenario testing, professional and security vetting, financial and background checks, and medical assessments.

The release continued that the next step in the process is for the President, in accordance with the Constitution, to issue a notification in respect of the highest graded candidates, which is subject to affirmative resolution from the House of Representatives.

“The Commission shall appoint the Commissioner of Police or Deputy Commissioners of Police only after the notifications are approved,” the release continued.

The PSC has the power to appoint, promote, confirm, discipline and remove the Commissioner and the deputy commissioners and additionally to monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of the discharge of their functions, prepare performance appraisal reports and hear and determine appeals of decisions of the Commissioner of Police with respect to promotion and disciplinary proceedings.

Last September the PSC and recruitment firm KPMG began the selection process for a Commissioner and two Deputy Commissioners.

A source said yesterday, the name for the post of Commissioner of Police would be a surprise to many.