105 new SRPs hit streets today

One hundred and five new Special Reserve officers will hit the streets, mainly in the Port-of-Spain area, from today.

This is the second batch to “pass-out” in as many weeks. The two batches of SRPs that have “passed-out” total 376, and they are all part of project “SRP 1000” identified by Prime Minister Patrick Manning in his 2003/2004 Budget as part of a crime fighting strategy. In his speech, Minister of National Security Martin Joseph lauded the new SRPs for their career choice and warned them of the roles they are expected to play. “You are expected to go on in the public and take on the mantle of leadership in our community. You are expected to discharge your role of police officer in a safe environment. You are going to be called on to perform at a higher level. “A higher level of expectation is expected from each and every one of you and you cannot afford to give less than that.

“It is important that you be provided with the necessary tools, but even if you are provided with the tools in sufficient quantity and you do not have the mind-set for the job, you will not discharge it in the way in which you are expected to. “Your role is a unique role. You are required to maintain public order and safety even when it is easy for you to say let them do what they want to do or let them kill themselves.  “We cannot afford to have that type of thinking in an organisation like this. “You will be required to perform duties that you did not do in the past. You are expected to ongoingly improve your self. “We have to show the world and the criminal that this “escalating crime” is just a simple “blimp” on the radar, and that we will recover.” The Minister ended by saying it was an historic day in the country and told the new officers that although they are now SRPs, other opportunities will come along. Another batch has already undergone two weeks of training at the old Piarco Airport terminal and are expected to “pass-out” in three weeks.