New head for Eastern Division

Well placed sources within the TT Police Service said that Senior Superintendent John Trimm, formerly in charge of the Eastern Division was transferred to the Finance Branch and has been replaced by Senior Superintendent Garth Nelson.

Senior Supt Nelson was expected to assume responsibilities in Eastern Division on Thursday but attended a Compstat meeting at the police Administration building before taking up duties. Senior Supt Nelson was reassigned to Northern Division earlier this year to assist Senior Superintendent Mc Donald Jacob, who is head of the Northern Division.

Both Senior superintendents were given the task of dealing with a spate of homicides in that division as well as other serious crimes.

The Acting Commissioner took the decision to have both Senior Superintendent Jacob and Nelson deal with the responsibility of tackling crime in the Northern Division after Senior Superintendent Simbonath Rajkumar was suddenly transferred to the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF).

Recently the Acting Commissioner called in Senior Supts Rajkumar and Trimm to his office and stated his intention to send both officers on early retirement. They were given seven days to respond to the decision of the Acting Commissioner and sought legal advice and later challenged the Acting Cop’s decision in court.

That matter is now pending before a High Court Judge. Newsday understands that there are several transfers to be carried out within the First Division by the Acting CoP in an effort to place officers where they are best suited. Efforts to reach Senior Supt Trimm on his transfer to Finance Branch yesterday proved futile.