Policeman vs top cop

UPDATE:

A POLICE Sergeant has accused acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams of being malicious in deciding to transfer him from the Northern Division Task Force (NDTF) to the Central Division. Sgt Matthew Haywood, in a letter sent to the CoP yesterday, claims he was transferred because he was investigating a relative of Commissioner Williams. Haywood also claimed his life is now at risk.

He said the decision was “malicious, unfair and actuated by irrelevant considerations” and he intends to challenge Williams’ decision to transfer him on January 18. Haywood also asked the commissioner to immediately revoke the transfer and reinstate him in the NDTF.

In the letter, one of Haywood’s attorneys Reynold Waldrop, contended the decision to transfer the officer was contrary to law, unreasonable and against the Police Service Regulations, since the commissioner failed to consider the hardship Haywood would face because of the transfer. Haywood was the general supervisor of the NDTF Area East, based at Arima Old Police Station, when on November 4, he began investigating a report of a shooting at Runway Drive, Mausica Road South, involving a relative of Commissioner Williams. The letter said the commissioner’s relative told Haywood who his relative was.

The letter said that on January 15, the senior superintendent of the Northern Division told Haywood he was being transferred to the Malabar Police Station, but the next day, Haywood received a message that he was instead being transferred to Central Division effective January 30.

Waldrop acknowledged that the commissioner was the only person authorised to transfer a police officer from one division to another but pointed out that under Regulation 68(1) of the Police Service Regulations, Williams had to give 14 days’ notice of the transfer and in considering the transfer, must take into account any hardship the officer was likely to face.

The attorney said the commissioner failed to give Haywood an opportunity to make representations of any hardship he might face. Haywood’s lawyers also argued there was no evidence to suggest that the exigencies of the TTPS required his transfer without notice and the commissioner failed to put the order of transfer in writing.

The lawyers have asked the commissioner to confirm in writing that he decided to transfer Haywood from the Northern to the Central Division, the reasons for the transfer, the immediate revocation of the transfer and reinstatement of Haywood as supervisor of the NDTF Area East. The commissioner has five days in which to respond. Also representing Haywood are attorneys Jeron Joseph and Tim Charriandy.

ORIGINAL STORY:

A SERGEANT has accused acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams of being malicious in his decision to transfer him from the Northern Division Task Force (NDTF) to the Central Division.

Sgt Matthew Haywood, in a letter sent to the CoP on Monday, claims he was transferred because he was investigating a relative of the commissioner and his life is now at risk.

He said the decision was “malicious, unfair and actuated by irrelevant considerations” and he intends to challenge Williams’ decision to transfer him from the NDTF Area East to the Central Division on January 18.

Haywood's lawyers have asked the commissioner to immediately revoke the transfer and reinstate him as supervisor of the NDTF Area East.

The commissioner has five days in which to respond to the letter.

Representing Haywood are attorneys Reynold Waldrop, Jeron Joseph and Tim Charrianndy.