TTPS QUARTERLY No.1 (1)

hairman of the Police Service Commission,
Dr. Maria Therese Gomes, at an event
recognising the commitment of officers to
duty, urged officers to “temper policing with
love”. Dr. Gomes made the appeal at a ceremony in
which police officers, who distinguished themselves
by refraining from abusing the sick leave provision,
were recognised by the Commissioner of Police (Ag.),
Stephen Williams, for their exemplary attendance
record. In all, three such ceremonies were held on
May 1st, June 22nd and August 21st 2015.
Dr. Maria Therese Gomes, Chairman, Police Service Commission
1830 officers from varying ranks, who maintained a
record of exemplary attendance, were honoured
for their dedication to the Trinidad and Tobago
Police Service. The officers were recognised in
three categories: 10 years (2005-2014), 5 years
(2010-2014) and 1 year (2014).
Commissioner Williams, however, leading by
example, was in a league all of his own having not
taken sick-leave for 36 years.
Dr. Gomes, the feature speaker at the first
event, reminded the officers that they
should engage more citizens and partner
with members of the community in an effort
to achieve good policing. According to the
PSC Chairman, officers should treat citizens
with dignity and respect, citing African
American scholar Cornel West, she said,
“Justice is what love looks like in public“. Dr.
Gomes urged officers to execute their duties
tempered with love and that this would have
a greater effect on how well policing would
be executed.
Then, Independent Senator and President
of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’
Association, Dr. Rolph Balgobin, at the June
12th 2015 event for officers who did not
utilise any sick leave for 5 years,
commended officers for not taking sick
leave even though the facility was there. He
also delved deeper into the importance of
the ceremony and what the officers had
achieved since “absenteeism can put the
18