Police investigating police

Professor Matroski, an expert on police investigations, was brought from the USA by the Government and he was given the portfolio to lead the transformation of the police service to be a professional organisation.

Mr Matroski and his team of professionals met with the Minister of National Security and the police Executive and several recommendations were made. Two of the main areas of concern were Homicide and Investigation into complaints against police officers. The Homicide Bureau was strengthened by the tripling of the number of officers posted to that unit and those officers all are being paid a special commuted allowance as detectives.

The Complaints Division, which is mandated to investigate rogue police officers was also strengthened by the addition of about 30 investigators, however despite the recommendation that these officers be paid the same commuted allowance given to detectives and officers from Special Branch, this has not been done and the officers from the Police Complaints Division receive the same salaries with no incentive.

It must be noted that police officers who offer themselves as investigators are taking a serious risk as they are investigating their colleagues, and can suffer along with their families in many ways, yet the Commissioner does not seem to consider these officers in any special way.

When the officers submit reports which may implicate members of special units of the Service these reports are somehow stifled and nothing heard about them. Several officers of the Complaints Division have since requested transfer to do ordinary police duties at stations, rather than to suffer the indignity of a Complaints Investigator. I recommend that the Commissioner remove the Complaints Division from Police Premises and give the officers the teeth needed to rid the Service of rogue cops as well as the incentive to do such investigations and we will see a marked improvement in police behaviour towards the general public.

M PILGRIM

Port-of-Spain