Snaggs to retire July 15

POLICE COMMISSIONER Everald Snaggs will proceed on 28 days leave from today, clearing the way for Deputy Commissioner Trevor Paul to act as CoP until May. Late yesterday, Snaggs was at his office at the Police Administration Building tying up loose ends. He is expected to proceed on pre-retirement leave in mid June, and will officially retire from the Police Service on July 15 when he turns 60. A well placed source told Newsday there are no plans to extend Snaggs’ tenure in the top police post. The next in line for the top post is Deputy Commissioner Paul.

Yesterday, ACP Winston Cooper, President of the Police First Division, reiterated that any attempts to bring in an outsider to fill the post of Commissioner will be met with strong resistance. He said the association is monitoring the situation very closely, since such a move will affect upward mobility in the service and cause tension. “I know for a fact that the current batch of officers in the executive are competent to carry out the functions of the Commissioner of Police,” said ACP Cooper. Snaggs received his official letter of appointment from Prime Minister Patrick Manning on January 2. The appointment was  retroactive to last July, when former Police Commisioner Hilton Guy went on pre-retirement leave. The CoP’s imminent departure is just one of several personnel changes likely to take place within the executive of the Police Service, Newsday understands. ACP Deochand Gosein, the ACP in charge of Tobago, will go on pre-retirement leave next month. ACP Frank Diaz, Head of Special Branch, is currently on long leave and that position has not yet been filled.

ACP Operations Oswyn Allard, who formerly held the portfolio of ACP Crime, is expected to be promoted to Deputy Commissioner when Snaggs goes on pre-retirement leave. The other Deputy Commissioner is Glen Roach. Snr Supt Wellington Virgil, Head of the Fraud Squad, will move up to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police. The Police Service Commission is expected to approve the promotion of sergeants and inspectors shortly. A senior officer said hundreds of officers are expected to retire shortly, paving the way for promotions.