10 KILLED UNDER GARY

DIRECTOR of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) David West has assured relatives of people who have been killed by the police that all investigations are being actively pursued.

From January 1 until yesterday, 34 people — all men — had been killed in shootouts with the police, compared with 46 for the same period last year. Out of the 34 killed this year, ten were within the past four months under the tenure of Police Commissioner Gary Griffith.

Griffith has gone on record as saying his officers are ready and able to meet fire from criminals with equal fire. He has warned that the Police Service is very well-equipped to deal with any and all eventualities and threats presented by criminals.

Yesterday, West confirmed that PCA investigators are investigating all 34 incidents in which people were killed by police this year.

The latest deadly shootout took place on Tuesday when police shot dead three men, all of whom were wanted, for crimes ranging from murder to rape, in the forest in Arima. They were described by police as “demons” who had robbed, raped, stabbed and chopped numerous people.

“We are vigorously pursuing investigations into all shootings by police officers, whether fatal or non-fatal,” West said. “Members of the public have been very supportive with respect to these investigations, however getting information from third parties does slow down the process and hinders the investigation.”

While the PCA has been working exceptionally well withits existing manpower, he said, he would be grateful if more investigators are added to the authority.

“That would definitely help, but we are working with what we have” he said.

Sources at the PCA said some of the police-killing investigations are nearing completion and recommendations are to be made to both the CoP and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

On October 25, two teenagers and three men were shot dead in a confrontation with police at a house in Trou Macaque, Laventille. They were identified as Mechack Douglas, 24, Shakille “Crash” Francois, 15, Kadeem Phillip, 16, Seandell St Clair and Nicholas Barker.

Several eyewitnesses were interviewed, including an elderly woman who was severely criticised by Griffith, who labelled her “SuperGran.”

On December 5, Roger Nagessar, aka “Bubbles,” was wielding a cutlass in the street when Ste Madeleine police shot him. Eyewitnesses questioned why they used lethal force against a man who was said to have mental-health challenges.

The Police Social and Welfare Association has said the police are not properly equipped or trained to deal with mentally ill people and recommendations have been made to introduce Tazers and pepper spray to deal with suspects and aggressive people in a non-lethal way.