Soldiers in homeless incident “severely disciplined”

POLICE Commissioner Gary Griffith is receiving weekly updates on the investigation into two police officers involved in an incident in which two homeless men were made to drink alcohol and do push-ups.

Speaking with Newsday after a media briefing at the Police Administration Building, Sackville Street, Port of Spain, on Monday, Griffith said while he did not want to divulge too much about the enquiries, the investigation was drawing to a close.

“The officers haven’t been disciplined as yet but I feel that by this time next week we will have some results. They will be dealt with,” he said. Two soldiers who were also involved have already been penalised for their actions, according to defence force sources.

Newsday understands the soldiers were identified and were
“severely disciplined” for their actions. In March a video shared on social media showed a joint army police patrol forcing 37-year-old Moses Phillip to drink puncheon run and do push-ups. The footage also showed the soldiers encouraging Phillip to run as the police car drove alongside him.

In April, Phillip and another homeless man, Malcolm Salvary, told Newsday they intended to sue the State and filed a pre-action protocol letter to the Attorney General.