Fake cops causing real problems

Shane Superville

Senior Reporter

shane.superville@guardian.co.tt

In less than a month, there have been three incidents where people were kidnapped or killed by criminals wearing police operational wear. For the year so far, there have been at least nine incidents where criminals disguised as police officers committed robberies, assaults, kidnappings, and even murders.

The trend of criminals impersonating police officers is not new, as police operational kits have been discovered among illegal arms and ammunition during raids for years.

In the most recent incident on October 8, police found and seized two police jackets, a pair of tactical trousers, caps, a police bulletproof vest, and strobe lights.

In May, the uniforms of three officers assigned to the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB) were stolen from their lockers at the Prime Minister’s official residence in St Ann’s. As of Thursday afternoon, no one was arrested for the theft, as the matter is still being investigated.

During a police media briefing on Thursday, DCP Operations Junior Benjamin announced that only the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB), the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF), the National Operation Task Force (NOTF), and the Multi Operational Police Section (MOPs) were allowed to wear tactical uniforms.

As he read from a TTPS memorandum that was issued that afternoon, Benjamin said officers assigned to divisions, branch sections, and units were required to wear their grey and blue uniforms. Benjamin added that operational uniforms previously used by divisions should be returned to the police service but could not say exactly how many uniforms were expected to be received.

However, the availability of operational wear through local retailers and private security companies means that even without having to borrow or steal legitimate police uniforms, criminals can access clothing that is convincing enough to deceive the public.

Tactical kits or Battle Dress Uniforms (BDUs) are sold at security supply stores and even roadside vendors in certain areas. It may cost bandits as little as $1,000 to look the part of a police officer. This price covers the cost of the BDU, combat boots, shoulder patches, and a cap.

Responding to questions from Opposition MP Roodal Moonilal during a Joint Select Committee sitting in January, Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher said she was concerned over the trend of criminals masquerading as police officers, noting that officers were asked to wear their grey and blue uniforms together with their official TTPS badges.

She noted, however, that the police operational wear or clothing similar in appearance was sold at retailers across T&T and sought the Government’s support in clamping down on this practice.

However, committee chairman Keith Scotland, now Minister in the Ministry of National Security, noted that the unauthorised use of police uniforms, like camouflage clothing, was prohibited.

“You don’t need any intervention. Charge … If there is a challenge, that’s why there is a judge and a magistrate.”

No restrictions on sale of tactical wear

But while police have repeatedly seized camouflage clothing and accessories from local stores, similar action has not been taken against stores that sell tactical clothing once they do not carry the official TTPS insignia.

One local retailer of security supplies and tactical apparel told Guardian Media that while it is his company’s policy to request official police identification and authorisation letters from customers buying BDUs, it was not law.

He added that it was possible for retailers elsewhere to sell tactical clothing without requesting official ID. The retailer noted that operational wear used by police and private security firms was usually sold locally for about $300, with minor price fluctuations depending on which store they visited.

He argued that while the TTPS could not realistically monitor the sale of the items, they had a responsibility to ensure their officers were equipped with unique uniforms that distinguished them from imposters.

“You have people buying fabric and making their own BDUs from scratch; that’s not the issue. The issue is that the Government hasn’t regularised a uniform and fails to adequately supply the officers with uniforms.”

A search of amazon.com shows that several variations of BDUs are available for sale. But even apart from buying or tailoring “homemade” uniforms, criminals also have the option of printing the police logo onto clothing.

Security camera footage from the kidnapping of Suvesh Ramnarine in Cunupia last weekend showed his attackers wore polo shirts and caps that bore the official TTPS emblem.

One store that specialises in the printing of T-shirts and apparel in east Trinidad said they typically received orders from police officers for sports days and other recreational events but requested official documents authorising customers from the TTPS for such products.

“We try to keep it as legitimate as possible because we’re a small business and we don’t want any problems. But that’s just us; we can’t say for certain how other places carry about their business.”

The clerk added that the printers could also be ordered for people to print their items without having to go to a company.

LED lights programmed to emit blue lights

Guardian Media spoke with businessman and community activist Inshan Ishmael, who said while the importation of blue swivel lights used on the roof of marked police cars was prohibited, LED lights that could be programmed to emit blue lights could be installed on the dashboards of vehicles.

Ishmael, whose company, the Roll On Roll Off Centre, has done maintenance work for police vehicles in the past, said such lights could not be easily detected by the authorities when packaged, as they appeared colourless when inactive.

“You need permission to import bluelights; you can’t just import it, but some lights aren’t coloured blue; they appear clear or transparent, meaning you don’t see the colour unless the blue LED is turned on.

“People can import it and just describe it as an LED light, so it passes through Customs without any issue, so it’s difficult for the Customs agent to detect that if they just look at it. The ones that are easier to pick up are the ones that have the plastic lens that is coloured blue.”

Ishmael said there was no straightforward way of addressing the problem of police impersonators, as anyone could be involved in assisting criminals with tailoring police uniforms.

During Thursday’s media briefing, ACP Administration Richard Smith said he understood the fear among the public because of police imposters. Referring to a scenario where drivers may be confronted by strangers purporting to be police, Smith said citizens were within their right to seek immediate help if they felt they were in danger.

“If you are out there at night and don’t see the (authorised) grey and blue uniforms, then by all means, drive to the nearest police station. We will be sensitising our officers as it relates to this. Every single member of the police service is very concerned about this; we are concerned because this is something that undermines our uniform, and I daresay desecrates our uniform.”

Police indiscipline

During a police town hall meeting in Charlieville last November, residents raised concerns over the prevalence of criminals posing as police officers to commit crimes but also remarked that legitimate police officers themselves may refuse to show their badges or official TTPS ID cards.

“Some of them are real officers and are not showing their badge or ID but giving you an attitude to go with it,” one woman remarked.

In response, then Central Division Supt Miguel Montrichard said in such situations it would be best to comply with the person confronting them. However, one IATF officer said this exposes the public to unnecessary risk and instead urged citizens to contact the nearest police station for advice on whether the people confronting them were legitimate police officers.

“It’s a ticklish thing. They can contact the nearest (police) station and inform them as to what is happening and say they are concerned over the uncertainty of it being legitimate police.

“Other than that, there’s very little that can be done because anything else would mean making physical contact with the individuals to check their identification and so on.”

The officer admitted that police in operational units may be hesitant or unwilling to show their official TTPS identification cards or badges, despite it being proper procedure.

Speaking with Guardian Media on Thursday, retired police Cpl Oluyemi Mashama said officers should present their official identification once requested from the public and encouraged senior officers to hold their subordinates accountable to certain standards.

Mashama, who worked as an instructor at the police academy for 13 years, said the public’s trust was necessary for the success of any critical crime-fighting initiative and warned that the failure of officers to obey their departmental orders of identification could erode that support.

“Police officers must be mindful of their duties to protect and serve a nation. If you’re not doing it, your seniors should do their job and hold you accountable for your actions.

“I think the lack of accountability or people being held accountable is what could be leading towards criminals being able to get away with a lot more.”

In cases where people may still be doubtful over whether the people engaging them are in fact legitimate police officers, Mashama urged the public to stream their interactions live on social media.

“Make sure the officer can see your hands and say, ‘Officers, I have started a live video, and I just want you to identify yourselves as authorised police officers or real police officers.’

“Real police officers should not have any issue with this because they are doing their job the right way, and you need to understand citizens just want to make sure they are safe.”

Mashama said that given his experience in law enforcement, the mannerisms and behaviour of the bandits involved in the kidnapping of Suvesh Ramnarine were unlike those of police, which easily distinguished them from legitimate officers.

He said the relatively easy-going approach of the attackers and the positioning of their vehicles around the bar where Ramnarine was abducted aroused his suspicions.

“They were too casual; the positioning of their vehicles for going into something that should have been a serious raid. The tactical manoeuvres were totally off, but I could tell from that video that something wasn’t right. The amount of them that entered the compound at the same time, they were off.”

The clampdown on the use of operational uniforms within the TTPS is only one step towards a reduction in the number of incidents involving police impersonators, he said.

But managing the issue requires more than just a reintroduction of internal regulations, as creative criminals can find several ways around such mechanisms. Key to the reduction in the number of fake police is the cooperation of street-level officers to obey their own rules to regain the trust of the public.

What the law says about police uniforms

Under the Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, anyone found guilty of wearing a police uniform or impersonating a police officer is liable to be fined $150,000 or face five years’ imprisonment.

Clause Four of the same bill amends the Police Service Act, which states that any officer who “pawns, sells, transfers, loans, or makes available his arms accoutrements, clothing, or any public property” is liable to a fine of $750,000 or imprisonment for 20 years.

Under Section 62 of the Police Service Act, Chapter 15:01, anyone—other than a police officer—who (a) puts on or assumes, either in whole or in part, the uniform, name, designation, or description of a police officer, or a uniform, name, or designation, resembling and intended to resemble the uniform, name, or designation of a police officer; or (b) in any way pretends to be a police officer for any purpose which he would not by the law be entitled to do of his own authority.

Crimes committed by fake cops in 2024

• On October 14, Moruga businessman Terrence Thomas was reportedly robbed and abducted by bandits who identified themselves as police officers.

• Businessman Suvesh Ramnarine was kidnapped by armed men wearing tactical gear and driving a black Hyundai Tucson with blue strobe lights from a bar in Cunupia on October 12, 2024. His whereabouts as of Thursday evening remain unknown.

• Used-car dealer Sachel Kungebeharry was kidnapped on September 25, when the car he was driving was intercepted by a marked police vehicle. Men wearing police uniforms took Kungebeharry away. His decomposing body was found in a shallow grave off Pokhor Road, Longdenville. Two police officers were charged in connection with this. Other people arrested were later released.

• On August 5, Emerson Boucher, 21 and Michael De Gazon were gunned down in Samaroo Village, Arima, by men driving a Suzuki Grand Vitara, which was equipped with flashing blue lights.

• On July 16, a 23-year-old Chinese national was outside his Bamboo Creek, Cunupia, home when he was confronted by men wearing police tactical uniforms who stole $17,000 from him.

• On April 21, a Penal bar owner was robbed of cash and jewellery by four men dressed as police officers. The men then reportedly escaped in a car equipped with blue flashing lights and a siren.

• On March 11, Buddy George, 59, his sons, Jeremiah George, Marcus Buddy, and gardener Dion Keyon Mendoza, were executed in a Mayaro forest by men wearing police tactical gear and who identified themselves as police officers.

• On January 16, Israel McLaren, 19, Shaqkeem Dennis, 27, and Jomol Williams were liming in Paradise Heights, Morvant, when gunmen wearing tactical gear got out of a dark grey pickup truck. The killers identified themselves as police officers before shooting the trio, killing them.

The post Fake cops causing real problems first appeared on CNC3.