The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Social and Welfare Association (TTPSWA), is now calling on parliamentarians and the public to desist from ridiculing the officers of the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB), involved in the arrest of firearms dealer Brent Thomas as the Appeal Court does its work.
On April 25, High Court Judge Devindra Rampersad criticised the PSB officers involved in the arrest and classified the operation in Barbados last October as an “abduction.”
Attorney General Reginald Armour even apologised last week to the Barbados police for what he said was the negative light cast on them while they were merely rendering assistance to the T&T Police Service in the matter.
However, TTPSWA head, Assistant Superintendent (ASP) Gideon Dickson, standing in solidarity with the officers, yesterday urged the public to put all criticisms on hold while the matter is still before the court.
“The TTPSWA has viewed with intent scrutiny the information in the public domain regarding a recent judgment on a matter that is still very much subject to the court process. Referring to what is public, we lay scorn on those who have used the names of our officers as a political football to advance their agenda,” Dickson said via a media release.
Dickson also stated in a GML report: “Within recent times since the judgment came out, from that time to now, you have heard persons in high quarters, low quarters, persons with political intent using the officers’ names and truth be told, this matter is still before the courts and the matter has been appealed but they are aware of themselves,” Dickson said refusing to give specific names.
ASP Dickson said officers are looking jealously up the archipelago to Barbados and the support its AG, Dale Marshall, has shown the Barbados Police Service (BPS). In addressing Barbados’ Parliament on May 9, Marshall said while the action of BPS officers in Thomas’ arrest were “somewhat short of applicable legal norms,” he rejected the suggestion it should be considered an abduction or kidnapping, adding that the BPS was merely trying to assist a “sister police service.”
Dickson said the TTPS would have appreciated similar support.
“But it is what it is, and we will continue to do what we must do. And my officers whose names have been used as a political football, all these officers did was their job to the best of their abilities, and they are not perfect, but it makes no sense that we go about the way of criticising them. We are part of the criminal justice system, so you wouldn’t want people to ridicule a judge who pronounces on matters, so similarly, our officers did not go out there to do any mischief, they were just doing their job and they were chastised immensely both local and abroad.”
Dickson said some officers attached to the PSB have since been receiving emotional support.