Police receive counselling for public attacks

POLICE assigned to the Inter-Agency Task Force and the Guard and Emergency Branch, on Saturday, spoke out about some of the abuse they have faced by the public during a group therapy session.

In a media release issued by the police service, Police Commissioner Gary Griffith said his officers spoke out about being cursed, spat at, shot at and threatened.

“Through the I Support Our Service (ISOS) initiative, the Police Commissioner hosted a clinical session at the Police Academy for all police officers who have been on the front line over the past eight months, and in particular, the last three weeks,” the release stated.

Officers along with their families were part of the group therapy session. The officers highlighted recent events where police were involved in shooting deaths and the aftermath of that.

"During this session the officers spoke of the attacks coming from the public, they noted that in particular areas, they were verbally assaulted, cursed at, spat upon, shot at, threatened by ferocious dogs, and in some cases, physically attacked. Some stated that in many cases, their training, experience, and composure prevented them from retaliation. In cases where they have come under gunfire and are forced to retaliate, these incidents have left them traumatized for a considerable period."

The release added that the more notable events affecting the officers were the murder of their colleague, PC Allen Moseley who was shot dead in Morvant on June 27. Also, the killing of three men – Noel Diamond, Joel Jacobs and Israel Clinton – later that day in Morvant by members of the two units, negatively impacted the officers. The fatal shooting of pregnant mother of five, Ornella Greaves, on June 30 was another incident affecting the officers of the two units.

Other issues impacting the officers included the blame put on the police for the shooting death of Greaves, two days of shootings, physical attacks, burning of tyres, and blocking of roads following the June 27 killings of the three men in Morvant.

Head of the IATF, Supt Oswain Subero, thanked Griffith for the session saying that when he joined the police service in 1988, such facilities were not available. He said the officers had to cope for themselves, and by themselves.