3 policemen shot in past 10 days

THREE policemen have been shot in separate incidents within the past ten days.

After the first shooting incident, Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher declared that acts of violence against her officers "is absolutely unacceptable and will not be taken lightly."

In the most recent incident, PC Ewanisha Fraser was shot and wounded in Barataria.

Police said that at about 9 pm on July 30, Fraser had just entered his vehicle parked at YH Supermarket when two men came out a white Nissan Tiida car parked nearby.

The first suspect walked to the driver's door while the other walked to the front passenger door and announced a hold-up. One of the men shot at Fraser, who managed to draw his firearm and return fire. Both men ran back to the Tiida, got into it and sped off.

Bleeding from a gunshot wound to his right hand, Fraser later sought medical treatment at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC) in Mt Hope. The bullet which entered and exited his hand, caused a fracture to his right elbow.

Police who responded, recovered 15 spent shells at the scene. Up to press time, no arrests were made.

In another incident, also on July 30, PC Andell Wilson, Rajendra Danpat and Naresh Roopchan were at their family's land in the Heights of Guanapo in Arima, when gunshots rang out and all three men were shot.

Wilson was shot in his lower back, Danpat was shot in his chest and right leg and Roopchan was shot in the stomach. They were taken to the Arima Hospital for treatment and were listed in a stable condition. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.

Then on July 22, policeman Shakala Charles was shot in east Port of Spain.

Charles was on patrol when at about 8.30 pm when he responded to reports of a shooting at St Paul Street.

Gunmen shot at the police vehicle and Charles who was in the front passenger seat, was hit. The bullet penetrated the side of his bulletproof vest.

Another man, identified as Keron George of East Dry River, was also wounded in the attack. Both men were taken to Port of Spain General Hospital for treatment.

In a statement on July 23, Harewood-Christopher said the attack on Charles left her deeply concerned. She added that she was confident her officers would not shy away from their job.

"As an organisation we may be shaken, but we remain undaunted and resolute in our mission to uphold the rule of law and protect every person resident in Trinidad and Tobago.

"Any attack on an officer is an attack on the very foundation on which our society stands, therefore these acts will not be tolerated and we will pursue all necessary measures to bring the perpetrators of this crime to justice."

She vowed the police would continue their clampdown on crime despite the attack.

"Those who feel emboldened to commit acts of lawlessness will feel the full force of the TTPS as we intensify our efforts against all acts of crime perpetrated against our citizens."