Police tactical uniform, sick officer’s badge found under mattress in Mayaro
Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
A TTPS-issued badge and identification card of a policeman, who has been on extended sick leave for over a year, as well as police tactical wear, were among several law enforcement items found during a raid in Mayaro early yesterday morning.
Army clothing was also recovered.
Police revealed that the officer, whose badge and identification card were found in the house, never reported his credentials stolen.
Checks by police also showed that the police officer’s TTPS badge and identification card were issued in 2018, but he has been on sick leave for over a year and did not live at the address in Guayaguayare.
A 31-year-old occupant of the house was arrested and will likely face charges.
Investigators said a fake pellet gun was among the long list of items found under a mattress after police executed a High Court search warrant for firearms and ammunition around 3.45 am at the house at La Savanne Circular, Newlands, Guayaguayare.
Among the other items recovered were a blue T-shirt with the police emblem on it, black cargo pants, a blue operational jacket with two TTPS shoulder patches and two front police patches, a black cap marked police, a ski mask, two long camouflage trousers and an army-type pattern T-shirt.
Last Thursday, Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher ordered that all police officers, except those assigned to four special units, return all tactical uniforms and revert to the grey and blue kits.
The directive which took effect on October 18, was in response to several incidents of criminals posing as police officers to commit crimes including kidnappings, extortion and even murders.
The raid was part of anti-crime operations conducted in the Mayaro district between 3 am and 7 am by officers of the Mayaro CID and TTPS Canine Unit co-ordinated by Snr Supt Paponette and supervised by Ag Sgt Mohammed and Cpl Jaikaran.
A 20-year-old woman from Charles Street, Guayaguayare, was also arrested for obscene language and resisting arrest.
Attempts to reach DCP Curt Simon and Eastern Division Snr Supt Christopher Pamponette about the discovery were unsuccessful yesterday.
Paray: Threat to public safety
Meanwhile, Mayaro MP Rushton Paray lamented that the recent anti-crime exercises in Mayaro have exposed a deeply troubling issue—the possession of police uniforms, identification, and gear by civilians.
He said, “This is not just alarming; it is a direct threat to public safety. The misuse of police uniforms to commit crimes is a serious offence that undermines the integrity of law enforcement and puts innocent lives at risk. There is no place for this kind of criminal activity in our society.
The fact that police paraphernalia was found in a private residence raises urgent questions about how these items were obtained and what they have been used for. “Impersonating law enforcement is not a petty crime; it is a deliberate attempt to deceive the public and exploit their trust for unlawful purposes. This kind of behaviour must be met with the full force of the law.”
He called on the Ministry of National Security to take immediate and decisive action to prevent the misuse of police uniforms and gear.
He said strict accountability measures must be enforced to track and secure all police equipment.
Paray added that any breach in protocol regarding the handling of law enforcement gear must be met with severe penalties.
“We cannot allow criminals to masquerade as police officers, preying on the very communities they are meant to protect,” the MP added.
He also called on National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds to ensure that this matter is treated with the seriousness it deserves.
He said the people of Mayaro, and all citizens need to be assured that the police are in control of their own ranks and equipment. Paray said anything less would be a failure in the duty to protect the public.
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