TTPS QUARTERLY No.1 (1)

No14036 Sgt. Bryon Daniel
n July 15th, 2011, the Professional Standards Bureau
(PSB) was established in the Trinidad and Tobago
Police Service (TTPS) with responsibility for ensuring
the integrity, transparency and efficiency of all
investigations, including criminal complaints made against
police officers of the TTPS.
The professionalism of the Police Service is reflected by the
competence, integrity and pride of its members. Situations,
however, do arise when individuals tarnish the positive image of
all members through isolated incidents. In such cases, the role of
the PSB is two-fold:
• To ensure/restore public confidence in the organization;
and
• To provide specific and general deterrents to negative
actions and behaviours
The PSB is also involved in the regular review of operations in
order to ensure a high standard of performance.
Police behavior that should be subject to citizen complaints
include, but is not limited to corruption such as larceny, bribery,
corruptly soliciting and corruptly receiving. It also includes other
possible criminal acts such as murder, grievous bodily harm,
kidnapping and false imprisonment.
Reports to the PSB can be made in person to the main office
located at MATCO Building, Henry Street, Port-of-Spain or
through any of the nine police divisions throughout Trinidad and
Tobago. Also written correspondence on such matters can be
addressed to the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Professional
Standards Bureau, will be accepted. Complaints against police
officers that are reported on in the media are also investigated by
the PSB.
These complaints are thoroughly investigated and then a report is
prepared, which includes information contained in the
statements from the complainant, the accused, and any
witnesses.
Since its inception, the functions of the PSB over the years have
expanded to include the effective monitoring of police shootings
throughout Trinidad and Tobago. In embracing this new
undertaking, the need for proper guidance and mentoring when
it comes to an efficient and thorough process has been
highlighted. The PSB has developed an easy to follow check list
to help guide the investigators through a police shooting
enquiry. This has led to a significant reduction in the back log and
slow pace of such investigations. It provides the investigators
with the assurance and confidence required to have their
investigation stand the test of public scrutiny.
PSB is responsible for conducting regular outreach exercises
through its Police Education Caravan. This initiative was borne
out of a need to educate officers on the role and function of the
PSB and to debunk the misconception that its sole mandate is
the investigation of errant officers but rather to explain the
broad objective which is to mentor and rehabilitate officers who
may be susceptible or vulnerable to unacceptable behaviours
and conduct. The Police Education Caravan was met with
success particular among the young and inexperienced officers
i.e., trainees, junior officers and officers with domestic, financial
and other social related problems. To date, the PSB has
conducted caravans in every police division and is expected to
launch similarly designed caravans for the branches.
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The completed investigative report also includes a narrative
summary of the events and a finding of facts as determined by
the evidence, including the statements of those involved. The
report is submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions to
review for completeness, objectivity and evaluation. If the
Director of Public Prosecutions has reason to believe that there
was misconduct or corruption on the part of the officer, he shall
take whatever action he deems necessary.
One such case was a landmark investigation which emanated
from public outcry regarding the shooting death of Abigail
Johnson, Kerron Eccles and Alana Duncan at the hands of
members of the Southern Division Robbery Squad on July 22nd,
2011, in Moruga.
This was the first real challenge undertaken by the newly formed
PSB which had to employ sophisticated techniques and conduct
painstaking enquiries in order to build a case to submit to the
Director of Public Prosecutions, Roger Gaspard.
In the end, the Director of Public Prosecution commended the
PSB for the quality of work done, and opted to prosecute the
matter himself, which resulted in all six accused being committed
to stand trial on 18 counts of murder. Each officer faced three
counts of murder.