ACP (Crime) post abolished

THE Post of Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) has been abolished and split into two positions because of the enormity of crime in the country, reliable sources told Newsday yesterday. Sources said the ACP (Crime) portfolio was much too large for one person to handle, and therefore Acting Commissioner of Police Everald Snaggs decided to split the ACP (Crime) post into two positions to be held by ACP Oswyn Allard and acting ACP James Philbert. Snaggs confirmed yesterday that Philbert will be responsible for Criminal Intelligence and Investigations, while Allard is responsible for Anti- Crime Operations.

Both Philbert, former head of the Homicide department, and Allard are at the same level and it does not mean that anyone has been demoted, sources said. Both men were served with letters indicating their new positions. Philbert’s job entails intricate investigations, matters involving State witnesses and also matters that will be taken before the courts, while Allard will be responsible for roadblocks and searches. Also in the reorganisation of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, sources said the positions of the two Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCP) have been changed to focus on criminal interdiction.

In previous years, the country’s two DCPs held positions of Operations and Administration.  Now, sources said, the DCPs positions are called Strategic Planning and Development, and Crime and Operations. They are to be held by Trevor Paul and Glen Roach respectively. There have been additional changes with ACP (Mobile) Deochan Gosine moving to ACP (Tobago/Northern/Eastern), while long time ACP (East) Nazamul Hosein will taken over Gosine’s position when he returns from vacation. Acting ACP Curtis Lloyd has been holding down the ACP (Mobile) position in Hosein’s absence.  ACP (North) Celestine Richards and acting ACP (South) Dennis Graham remain in their respective positions.