Police welfare boss heartened by PM’s support

akash.samaroo@cnc3.co.tt

Senior Reporter

The Police Service Social and Welfare Association (PSSWA) believes the Prime Minister’s comments about the increase in police-involved killings is not only a motivator to officers, but can also serve as a much-needed warning to criminals.

It was earlier this month that the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) highlighted what it called an alarming increase in police- involved killings.

Guardian Media has received conflicting statistics in this regard. The PCA says it has recorded 21 such cases so far for 2024, while the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has that figure at 37.

When asked about the PCA’s concerns over the rise in such killings during Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing at Whitehall, the Prime Minister seemingly came to the defence of the officers, noting that the reason for the increase could be that more criminals are feeling emboldened to shoot at the police.

“The fact that there are more shootings by the police, the inference you can draw from that is that more people have shot at the police, or that more people have armed themselves with the view that if the police show up, they will shoot their way out of it. Or that more arms are coming into the country to allow more people to be able to carry out that point of view,” Dr Rowley said.

He added, “If no people are engaging in shooting at the police, then I have no doubts that the number of instances where the police return fire and people get hit, that will go down.”

Those comments were music to the ears of PSSWA president ASP Gideon Dickson, who told Guardian Media, “The statements made by the Prime Minister, we view it as motivational for us, the police. It was good to hear that we have high office holders supporting the efforts of the police officers to try to push back against what is taking place here.”

Moreover, ASP Dickson believes Dr Rowley helped in their crime fight because his words can be interpreted as a serious warning, especially for gun-toting criminals.

Dickson said he wants clips from the Prime Minister’s statement to circulate on TikTok and other social media platforms which criminals use frequently.

“You can also use those statements and put it in soundbites and play it for those potential criminals and those who are in criminal activities, violent crimes in particular, letting them know that there are consequences to their actions if they choose to confront the police,” Dickson explained.

Noting the commentary on social media every time there is a police-involved killing, Dickson said he was unaware of any officer who goes out on patrol with the premeditated intention to shoot first. However, he said the reality is that some criminals are not prepared to go through the legal system.

“We are not taking away anything from what we have to do in terms of investigating matters and taking matters before the court, but right now with what is taking place, those who have heavy artillery outside here, it appears they have no intention of going to court. When they are committing the crimes as heinous as the one in Moruga and other related crimes, they have already chosen their pathway,” Dickson said.

Dickson acknowledged that some members of the public are critical of their actions when they are forced to shoot back and criminals, but he wondered if they understood the calibre of weapons that are being used against them.

“So, there is no second opportunity to address a situation when you are confronted by bullets. Because when you go to a crime scene now, you are not seeing one or two projectiles lying around, no, you are seeing the place laden with ammunition. Long time it used to be just .38, it used to be knife and cutlass, or a homemade shotgun. Now you are seeing heavy artillery outside there,” Dickson lamented.

He added that these are some dangerous times and while members of the public have the luxury from analysing situations from afar and after the fact, officers are often confronted with situations that require them to make split-second decisions to preserve their lives and to protect the public.

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