Senior cop brands TT a ‘lawless society’

Deputy Police Commis-sioner Glen Roach yesterday described Trinidad as a “lawless society” and called on all police officers to exercise zero tolerance towards crime. The deputy commissioner made the comments at a graduation ceremony for 18 police motorcyclists held at the Cabildo Chambers. He told the graduates although they are police officers, they must ensure the public is treated with respect when preserving law and order. “When you answer the telephone in a police station, you should always answer the phone with a smile,” advised the DCP. He also said police officers should know what is happening around them, be polite, and wear the uniform with dignity.

He reminded the officers they will be interacting with the public at a time when the Police Service is under scrutiny, and the public is keeping an eye on how officers respond to crime and how they go about the motto — To Protect and Serve. He also advised the officers to protect themselves when they are on duty. Government acquired 25 new motorcycles for the Police Traffic Branch which are due in the country as early as next week. Supt Rabindranath Maharaj, who also addressed the gathering, said all the officers who took part in the training programme displayed skills and determination to ensure they graduated.

He said the training included motorcycle repairs, highway code, traffic signs, basic first aid and seatbelt regulations. Eleven of the officers who graduated yesterday never rode a motorcycle before the training programme started. The most improved student on the course was awarded to PC Wallace, while the best all-round student was Hafeez Ali-Persad. The ACP Mobile and other senior Traffic Branch officers received plaques at the end of the graduation.