CoP: Police will defend themselves under attack

COMMISSIONER of Police (CoP) Erla Harewood-Christopher says police officers will defend themselves if they are attacked in the line of duty.

She made this comment to the media after the funeral service of PC Krishna Banahar at his family's home at Silver Stream Trace, Fyzabad on November 9.

Banahar, 25, who was attached to the Siparia CID, was shot and killed during an anti-crime exercise in St Rose Street, Gonzales, Guapo on November 6. He was shot in the head, several times in his torso and was pronounced dead at the Point Fortin Hospital at 5.20 am.

Also killed was scrap iron dealer Al Hakim Joseph, 44, who was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Another officer, Cpl Mohammed, was also hospitalised with gunshot wounds stemming from the incident. A 25-year-old suspect remains in police custody.

South Western Division Snr Supt Edmund Cumberbatch promised a thorough investigation would be done.

Harewood-Christopher was asked to comment on reports on social media which claimed that police officers were shot at by heavily armed men in the Heights of Aripo.

While she was unable to give details about the incident, Harewood-Christopher said, "I want to assure you that when officers are shot at, they will be shooting back."

She said police will continue to ask citizens to support them in their battle against the criminals because they know they cannot do it alone.

"Police come from the same communities, so when these things happen it hits home."

Harewood-Christopher said, "So it's time for persons to stop thinking it's just the police and it's just the commissioner or the minister (of national security). It is everybody. Everybody must play their role and we will have it under control."

She added, "The police are not giving up and we intend to win this battle."

In a statement on November 8, Harewood-Christopher said a Glock pistol was found at the scene of Banahar's murder and a 35-year-old suspect was in custody and assisting investigators.

She also called for people to stop protecting criminals.

"While the call is always for the police to do more, and we are always prepared to do all we can, it is clear that this is a societal problem requiring a whole of society response. This incident again highlights the urgent need for us as citizens to act in concert to immediately apprehend the persons responsible and rid our society of the perpetrators of violent crime.

"We cannot continue to protect sons, relatives, neighbours and friends who we know or suspect to be involved in committing violent crime. It does not serve us or our nation well when we seem to cooperate in protecting the few persons bent on disrupting our society and instilling fear in our citizenry. We need to expose the criminals."