Ramesar urges cops to work with Griffith

Anand Ramesar
Anand Ramesar

UPDATE:

SECRETARY of the Police Social and Welfare Association ASP Anand Ramesar yesterday appealed to all police officers to allow public safety and duty and responsibility to override all emotions on the issue of Gary Griffith being their new commissioner, and to support him.
Ramesar’s view differs from that previously expressed by the association’s president, Insp Michael Seales, that “policing and politics don’t mix.”

Ramesar congratulated Griffith but said he must be reminded “It is not a job that he can do by himself. It is necessary that he also understands he is coming to be part of a team with the sole purpose of law enforcement and public safety.”
He also said it was important that Griffith recognises the people who have the capacity to support and contribute to his leadership on both an administrative and operational level. Government, he said, must also recognise that the responsibility for leadership and management of the Police Service is not completed until the two deputy commissioners have been appointed. “In this regard the Police Service Commission should make haste in forwarding those recommendations to the President.”

He also noted Griffith’s appointment represents “a change in leadership, in so far as he does not have a law-enforcement background. However current research and development supports such changes and it is hoped that he brings the innovation that the TTPS needs at this juncture.”
Last week, Seales said that at a meeting with the First and Second Divisions he was told Griffith’s nomination would not be supported.

Newsday tried to reach him yesterday for comment but calls to his cell phone went unanswered. Two senior police officers told Newsday, despite earlier apprehensions, they looked forward to Griffith’s term as commissioner and believed he had the best interest of the nation at heart.
A senior officer in the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) said the appointment marked the beginning of a new era, and while he was initially disappointed in the selection of someone from outside the police service, he believes a fresh perspective on critical challenges was key to success.

“He (Griffith) definitely has my support. I am not concerned about any unrest or dissidence by disgruntled officers, I think we are big enough to understand that we act for the public and not ourselves. Griffith may just be the man to clean up the service and get rid of some of these lazy officers.”

ORIGINAL STORY:

Secretary of the Police Social and Welfare Association ASP Anand Ramesar appeals to the rank and file of the police to allow public safety and duty and responsibility to override all emotions and feelings on the issue of Gary Griffith being their new commissioner and to support the new leadership.

Ramesar's view appeared to differ from that previously expressed by the rpesident of the Police Association Insp Michael Seales that “policing and politics don’t mix.”

Yesterday Ramesar congratulated Griffith on his appointment, but said the new man at the helm of the police service must be reminded: “It is important, however, he recognises it is not a job that he can do by himself. It is necessary that he also understands he is coming to be part of a team with the sole purpose of law enforcement and public safety.”

Last week president of the association Insp Seales said that at a meeting with the First and Second Divisions he was told that Griffith's nomination would not be supported.

Seales said he was adopting a wait-and-see approach before making any comments and was also awaiting guidance from his membership on the way forward.

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