As the country continues to grapple with violent crimes, acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams says the good work of the Police Service often goes unnoticed.
He made the comments at the opening ceremony of the Maracas Police Station in St Joseph yesterday.
“Many times the work of the Police Service is not effectively broadcasted and every day within a 24-hours period there are numerous success stories that we miss,” Williams said.
In highlighting some cases, Williams said over the past 24 hours a vehicle had been intercepted and a man was held with a series of items.
“Those items related to three larcenies, two of those were yet reported when the police would have already detected,” Williams said, adding that the man was arrested and charged.
In Central Division, the top cop said a man was held in Freeport and charged with possession of a revolver and six rounds of ammunition. Also in that division, Williams said police pursued a Tiida car which eventually crashed and the driver was arrested for possession of a Glock pistol and ten rounds of ammunition. The vehicle was suspected to be stolen.
At 1 pm on Thursday, Williams said a man was arrested along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway for driving a stolen vehicle, while in the Southern Division around 1 am yesterday police responded to a report and arrested a man for shop breaking. All the items were recovered and the man charged.
In Princes Town a man was also arrested on Thursday for possession of a home-made shotgun and a round of 12 gauge cartridges, while Point Fortin police recovered a pistol and a round of ammunition after a tip-off from the public.
“I am saying all this to share with you the everyday positive stories of the Police Service missed by the society and people are of the opinion that nothing good is happening,” Williams said.
“I want to give the society the assurance that every single day success stories like these occur in T&T from the effort of the Police Service.”
Saying that as an organisation officers continued to be challenged by crime, Williams assured all the available resources would be used to fight criminal elements and deliver quality service to citizens.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who also spoke at the event, acknowledged that Williams’ job was a very difficult one, adding, “We are all human and sometimes it gets to us when all that comes in our direction is the failings of our human existence ... if all that you’re hearing is how badly you have done something...eventually it can get you.”
But he also warned that rogue elements in the Police Service must not be tolerated.
