‘Don’t use cops as political tool’

PRESIDENT of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Social and Welfare Association, Christopher Holder, yesterday admitted that he was fully aware that the public has lost confidence in the Police Service. His comments were made during the signing ceremony of the collective agreement for salary increases and reviews of the terms and conditions of employment for officers of the First and Second Divisions of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. “We know that you have lost some measure of confidence in the Police Service, and we know that this did not happen overnight. It took a number of years. But what we are asking you, is that we be given the opportunity to have you regain that confidence,” he said.

Holder made the comment in the presence of  newly-appointed Commissioner of Police Everald Snaggs. He promised that things will be set right: “The Police Service owes it to the public to make it up to them. All we are beseeching at this time is to ask you to bear with us and give us the opportunity to regain that confidence. We are going to use some revolutionary measures because we cannot take too much time to repair the damage.” He warned the Government not to use the Police Service as a political tool. “Please protect the Police Service from being a political scapegoat in response to high levels of crime in our society.  We are indeed trying our best.” National Security Minister, Martin Joseph, commended the officers on their signing of the agreement. “Now that the issue of compensation is behind us, we can focus on making sure that we have a Police Service that is able to respond to the challenges that face them.”