CoP orders police on vacation leave: Report for SoE duty

A directive issued by Commissioner of Police (CoP) Erla Harewood-Christopher for officers on vacation leave to report for duty appears to have been largely ignored, as during a press briefing on January 8, ACP Richard Smith repeatedly urged officers on leave to report for duty and assist in operations being undertaken in the state of emergency (SoE).

The SoE was declared on December 30 and Newsday understands since January 3, the CoP has issued the correspondence calling on officers on leave to return to work.

Speaking at the press briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port of Spain on January 8, Smith said he was using the platform to continue to urge officers to adhere to the call.

"This is a call to you all, an appeal to you all. Come out as early as today, tomorrow, as soon as you get this message, as we need your assistance. We need all hands on deck to continue to fight against the scourge of criminality taking place."

Smith told Newsday four different methods of contacting these off-duty officers were being used.

"Official correspondence, e-mails, direct messages to these officers' homes, and what I said at the press briefing were the four means (of reaching out).

"If they do not come out, we have our disciplinary process with which we would proceed against them. If found guilty, they will have charges laid against them."

Smith said police who are on medical leave and pre-retirement leave were exempt from the call-out.

"Some officers who are on medical leave adhered to the commissioner's call and we commend them for that, but we sent them back on their leave.

"Just under 100 police officers have returned to duty within the last three days and we have already deployed them effectively."

When pressed for the number of officers currently on vacation leave, Smith was unable to provide a figure.

Newsday understands there are roughly 6,500-6,800 active officers not including Special Reserve Police (SRP). Smith said there were 400 recruits undergoing training.

"On January 17, 113 new officers will be graduating. We intend to take in more by the end of the month. We have four batches of police in training at this time. We are filling the vacancies, but we will take some time to select the best people based on what is taking place now."

WHAT OF RESOURCES?

President of the Police Service Social and Welfare Association (PSSWA) acting ASP Gideon Dickson, when contacted, called on the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to be better resourced.

He said police were doing the best with the resources at hand, but complained it was becoming increasingly difficult to function effectively.

He said the police were short by 1,400 officers as the sanctioned strength is supposed to be over 7,800. A proposal, Dickson added, was sent to the Minister of National Security in 2023, that SRPs be fully absorbed into the service to fill vacancies and have more boots out in public.

"To date, we sit here nowhere closer to absorbing these officers to enhance the strength of the TTPS so that we could be more effective in operations."

He said the 1,000 additional officers promised in the 2023/2024 budget never materialised.

"Do a fact check: how much did we get to date? Just over 200 officers."

He said since 2019, increasing demands have been made on the police and as a result, leave was being restricted.

Dickson said there was also a shortage of equipment such as bulletproof vests and non-lethal weapons.

Newsday asked deputy CoP Junior Benjamin about the shortage on January 8.

"The aim of the executive is to ensure the officers are well taken care of and we provide the necessary tools for their safety and security.

"The bulletproof vest is one of those things we are working on currently and we have put things in place to ensure that we get the vests and it is only a matter of time before we receive them."

Benjamin said he hopes and expects the issue will be rectified within the next two months.

In October, a police release said 166 new vehicles were acquired. Of the 166, 93 were delivered in October, while 73 were yet to be delivered and were expected in December.

Asked if the 73 vehicles had been delivered, Benjamin said, "We are working on getting them procured. We are putting those things in place to ensure that in the near future, it will help us with increased mobility. It is in train as we speak."

Newsday also asked Benjamin if the police faced a mobility issue.

"We have vehicles. I wouldn't say we have a mobility issue. There is always room for more, so that we can be better outfitted to meet the challenges."

Benjamin said the intention was to have at least two vehicles at every station throughout the country.

"There are those that will be going on on enquiries, those attending to reports and then those on patrols."

POLICE FACE BURNOUT

On the issue of the CoP's call for officers to come off leave to help with the SoE, Dickson said while he understands the call, he also understands officers' need for rest.

Asked if there was official correspondence to these officers, Dickson said, "The association would have heard that officers are being called off leave to assist with the SoE. We got nothing official that this was a strategic direction."

Dickson said while additional manpower in the service is always welcome, officers on leave have earned that right (to be on leave).

"They are required to get their bodies rejuvenated so when they come back out officially, those who are working and holding the ground can go and get rest.

"That is how it works under normal circumstances. With the SoE, you might require more, but we are saying, as the PSSWA, that the police service can end up in a precarious position down the road."

Dickson said he hopes those in authority witness the strain officers are currently under.

He added it was impossible for the public to expect the police to operate at maximum capacity for such long spells.

"We are under added strenuous positioning and people expect us to pull out the results too.

"Since 2019 we are going around the clock!"

Dickson said at this current pace and with the anticipation of the SoE being extended for three months, the police will experience burnout.

"The sustainability that people are looking for throughout the year, it is not realistic to maintain that intensity.

"When you're dealing with human elements, people need to rest to perform at optimal. We have to be careful in balancing that. These officers have families too."

Dickson also brought up being stuck in salary negotiations with the rest of the public sector.

"That cyah be correct!"

SoE RESULTS IN 10 DAYS

Police operations – 473 (47.3 per day)

503 priority offenders targeted, 360 detained

2,495 searches done

321 traffic operations, 951 traffic offences detected

Guns found – 22 ( includes five AR-15 rifles)

Drugs found – 84 kilos of marijuana, 592 grammes of cocaine

Ammunition found – 818 rounds

In custody – 143 people