Cops abandon St Joseph station

Secretary of the Second Division, Sgt Noel Chase, told Newsday that officers have been clamouring for the authorities to repair the dilapidated station since 1995.

Officers claim the station was repainted, but the rotted flooring, the mal-functioning toilets and other inhumane conditions have remained the same. Last week, an officer fell through the floor at the station and the toilets stopped working.

This prompted outrage from the female officers who were affected by the non-functioning toilets.

A report was filed at the Second Division about the rotting floors and the useless toilets.

Officers of the association’s executive decided to shut down the station, and the Police Service executive was informed of the move. Since nothing was done to rectify the situation, a decision was taken to relocate officers to the Tunapuna Police Station.

Around 11 am yesterday, officers led by Cpl Cedric Neptune and members of his executive went to the St Joseph Police Station with a truck.

The guns stored at the station, fans and other equipment were loaded on the truck and taken to the Tunapuna Police Station.

More than 100 officers attached to the St Joseph Station will now report for duties at the Tunapuna Police Station. A mobile police station will be placed at the St Joseph station for persons wishing to file reports, and officers will continue mobile and foot patrols.

Secretary of the Police Second Division, Sgt Noel Chase, told Newsday that the decision to relocate came about after officers at the St Joseph station decided they could no longer work under the inhumane conditions. He added that although the conditions at the Tunapuna Police Station are also questionable, things are much worse at St Joseph.

In the last Budget, Government had promised that the St Joseph Police Station was earmarked for major refurbishment. However, nothing has yet been done to make the station suitable.