‘Shoot to kill!’

POLICE Second Division Association president, Acting Insp Christopher Holder yesterday issued a stern call to all members of the police service: “Don’t hesitate to shoot to kill in protecting your lives and limbs and also those of other citizens.” Holder was responding to the shooting of Special Branch officer, PC Dereck Nelson, who was shot during a robbery incident Saturday night in Couva. The officer, who had been assigned bodyguard to High Court Judge Herbert Volney, was relieved of his firearm, cash, ammunition and jewelry.  The 37-year-old officer is said to be improving at the San Fernando General Hospital. However, relatives told police that officer Nelson, of St Augustine, is in exteme pain and is still on life support. He reportedly underwent surgery to stop internal bleeding, police said.

Holder, in a telephone interview, said the association will commit its resources towards a serious and forceful counter assault on all bandits in the country. “We will close ranks in destroying the criminal menace,” the association president stated categorically. This, he said, means that all officers in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) will combine efforts. “All police officers will be as one,” Holder said, adding that he will be advising all officers to be extremely alert.  Holder added that the association stands firmly behind all their members. “They will have all the support whenever they have to engage in such activities,” Holder said. Asked if members of the public were to cry police brutality, Holder said he preferred not to comment. “I have made a statement and I stand by it,” he said. Meantime, senior officers of the Central Division told Newsday yesterday that they were pursuing several leads in the shooting of Nelson. A party of officers from the Port-of-Spain Division headed by Sr Supt Gilbert Reyes also revisited the scene of the shooting on Milton Road. However, up to late evening no arrests had been made.  Investigations are continuing.