Vicious, barbaric act

Williams told reporters yesterday at the Scarborough Police Station in Tobago, investigators are pursing the case “with vigour” to ensure the 22-year-old officer’s killers are brought to justice. “It has traumatised the nation and it has traumatised the entire Police Service,” Williams said. “Such a vicious and barbaric act by individual or individuals is one, no one in this society would endorse or condone.” He said, “I want to give the public the assurance that we are going to continue to focus on this investigation in a special way because it is a police officer who has died, but we will also continue to focus on other investigations in a special way. We extend resources at our disposal to solve crimes. In this particular instance the entire society has been traumatized. And we have to lift our game to ensure crime is solved.” When asked about the findings of the investigations thus far, he stated, “I will not be speaking on the stage of the investigation or the content of the investigation.

I will tell you the investigation is being pursued at this point time with all effort. We have detained several persons and I would not give the names of the name of those persons at this point in time, but yes we have detained persons.

There are some key indicators but I don’t want to share at this point in time. We will brief the media in a substantial way shortly.” When questioned about a video circulating on social media with what seems to be WPC Joseph being choked and tugged by a male friend, Williams said he is unaware of the particular incident but went on to say he will reserve any further information surrounding the death of WPC Joseph, at this time. The police service has planned to cover all cost for the burial of WPC Joseph. Williams said WPC Joseph short time with the police service will be remembered.

He said “in light of all the circumstances with this death, an extremely young officer just passed out just months ago, are such where we have to do something special. As the head of the organisation we will undertake to cover the expenses of the funeral. That’s what we intend to do.” WPC Joseph,22, was reported missing on the March 9. She was four months in the service and was attached to the Morvant Police Station.

After six days of land and sea searches, the body of the missing officer was discovered on Wednesday by a Felicity fisherman out at sea in the Gulf of Paria off Sea Lots. Williams said the police service is grieving the loss of a young officer and sent condolences to her family and close friends.