Top cop to view roadblocks from helicopter

Acting Police Commissioner Everald Snaggs will soon be flying to crime scenes and roadblocks by helicopter. The helipad built on the top of the Police Administration building at Sackville Street, Port-of-Spain, will soon be used for the very first time. This was revealed by National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee following an aerial tour of islandwide road blocks carried out throughout the country. The helicopter will be sourced by the Ministry of National Security through the assistance of the National Helicopter Services and the Civil Aviation Authority. Even though the Police Administra-tion building was handed over to the Police in 1991, the helipad was never used by the police. Newsday learned that discussions have already been held with General Manager of the National Helicopter Services Nick Nothnagel to have the helicopter sourced and made available to the Ag Commissioner in the quickest possible time. Minister Chin Lee confirmed that negotiations for the helicopter have started. The Civil Aviation Authority will be consulted next week as part of the preparations to make the helicopter available to the police.

Newsday learned that officials from the Civil Aviation Authority will soon be visiting the helipad at the Administration building to ensure that the helipad meets the required standards for the landing and taking off of a helicopter. Once the permission is granted, the helicopter will be made permanently available for the Ag CoP and future Police Commissioners. Newsday learned that the options available for the Police Service will be to train a qualified police officer who is interested in flying the helicopter. In the interim, a pilot will be made available to the Ag CoP. Yesterday, the National Security Minister told Newsday, “This is how we will be monitoring the work of police officers in all divisions, and the Ag CoP will be able to arrive at all points in quick time.” Yesterday, the National Security Minister, accompanied by Ag Commissioner Snaggs and ACP Crime Oswyn Allard, was able to view all roadblocks throughout the country with the use of a national security helicopter. As  Minister Chin Lee alighted from the helicopter in Rio Claro, children mobbed the Minister asking for autographs and expressing delight at seeing both the Minister and Ag Commissioner in the flesh.

Chin Lee later observed the roadblocks in Rio Claro and met with officers taking part in the searches. He said that he was impressed by what he saw. He thanked the police officers for their assistance in the anti-crime plan and told them that he was looking at ways and means of improving their work conditions. The Minister and his team landed at four locations during the aerial tour. The areas were Fyzabad, San Fernando, Point Fortin and Rio Claro. During a massive exercise opposite Grand Bazaar, 22 tickets were issued, 50 drivers were ordered to remove tints and one person suspected of motor car larceny was arrested. That exercise was led by Cpt Sealey of the Defence Force and included Ag Inspector Sahadeo Singh, Sgt Millette, Cpls Collins, Brown and others.