‘Set targets were not met’

The top cop made reference to Section 123A of the Constitution, whereby the Commissioner of Police shall have complete power to manage the TT Police Service and is required to ensure that the human, financial and material resources available to the Service, are used in an efficient and effective manner. Williams stated that the performance target of the TTPS for 2016, was set at a five percent reduction in serious crimes and ten percent for reduction in murders.

These targets, Williams noted in his letter to Ramdeen, were not met by his (Ramdeen) clients Snr Supt Simbonath Rajkumar and Snr Supt John Trimm and it was because of this, he (Williams) is seeking to have both officers proceed on forced early retirement. Williams said his view is that both senior officers did not make a significant contribution towards the Police Service improving its performance and achieve set crime reduction targets for murders, woundings and shootings in 2016.

He also stated that the executive of the TTPS held weekly Compstat meetings throughout 2016 with Divisional Heads and he would have taken into consideration the weekly account of each officer at these meetings.

The Acting CoP also provided data on the monthly serious crimes reported for the years 2015-2016 for both Divisions of the two senior officers identified as Senior Superintendents Simbonath Rajkumar and John Trimm, and repeated that the time for the officers to make their representations would be on or before January 20, 2017.

In his letter, with regard to woundings and shootings in Northern Division during the tenure of Rajkumar, the Acting Commissioner revealed: “Data for woundings and shootings reported for the six months of May to October 2016, when compared with the same period for 2015, shows an increase from 19 in 2015 to 48 in 2016. This represents a 153 percent increase in woundings and shootings.” He added that woundings and shootings for those six months contributed to Northern Division recording a total of 78 in 2016, as compared to 45 in 2015 - an 81 percent increase.

The Acting CoP also noted that kidnappings, burglaries and break-ins increased under Rajkumar in Northern Division. With respect to Trimm, the Acting CoP noted that serious crimes increased from 641 in 2015 to 833 in 2016. He also noted that the increase in woundings and shootings, in Eastern Division, moved from 47 to 63 - an increase of 32 percent. He also noted an increase in burglaries and break-ins. Robberies, Williams said, increased from 80 in 2015 to 135 in 2016, an increase of 69 percent.

Contacted yesterday on the Acting CoP’s response and reasons given to compel him to seek the early retirement of both Rajkumar and Trimm, Rajkumar said: “Yes there were increases and while the Acting CoP was on leave, I communicated with him and requested additional resources to deal with the situation.

I never received any additional resources.

“But when the leadership was changed in November of last year, additional resources were given to the Northern Division by him (Williams) and he himself took command of that Division and posted an additional Senior Supt to assist in that Division together with help from soldiers, IATF and other agencies. Contacted for a comment, Trimm said the matter is now in the hands of his attorney and he did not wish to comment