Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams’ off-duty driver was shot dead during a botched robbery attempt in Woodbrook on Thursday night. The incident was one of two attacks on police on Thursday night, leaving many to wonder whether the police were now being targeted by criminal elements. In the first incident, PC Simon Claphan, 47, of Boxhill Trace, Laventille, died shortly after midnight on Thursday, after he was shot several times during a robbery at Roberts Street, Woodbrook.
In the second incident, a woman constable was rescued by one of her colleagues after a group of men attempted to carjack her at she was heading to work in St James yesterday morning.
On February 19, Sgt Hayden Manwaring was killed as he attempted to apprehend bandits on Cipero Street, San Fernando. And on May 12, acting Cpl Terrence Abraham was shot dead by as man he was having an argument with in Couva, in what the police subsequently described as a hit. Nine officers have now been killed in the line of duty since 2012, according to statistics from the Crime and Police Analysis Branch of the Police Service.
Before he died, Claphan managed to shoot one of his attackers. Both men died on the spot. According to police reports, around 11.45 pm, Claphan stopped his black Nissan Navara along the road to help a woman driver. But police said before he got out his car, two men approached him. One of the men pointed a gun at him and they told him to hand over his wallet, phone and jewelry. Eyewitnesses told police that while appearing to comply with the robbers’ demands, Claphan drew his service pistol and began shooting at the two.
The gunman returned fire, hitting Claphan several times in the chest, but Claphan was still able shoot the gunman’s accomplice several times. Police said after the short exchange of gunfire, the wounded officer fell unconscious and the gunman robbed him of his gun, then ran towards Tragarete Road, where he escaped in a silver Nissan B14. The dead man was later identified as Michail Stone, of Tumpuna Road, Arima.
The female driver, who escaped the incident unscathed, contacted police, who immediately issued an all-points bulletin for the getaway car. Less than an hour later, a car matching its description was spotted on Lady Young Road in Morvant. Police from the North Eastern Division Task Force (NEDTF) led by Sgt Cornelius Samuel tried to stop the car, but only succeeded after chasing it along St Francois Valley Road, Belmont.
One suspect detained
The driver, a 29-year-old man from Belmont, was arrested. No guns were found in the car. The driver of the getaway car remained in police custody last evening. Police said the arrest of the gunman is imminent. Homicide detectives do not believe Claphan was targeted because of his occupation, but fell prey to opportunistic robbers. When a news team from the T&T Guardian visited Claphan’s home yesterday afternoon, his wife and two sons were too distraught to speak to reporters.
One of Claphan’s relatives, who gave a short interview, described him as kind, cheerful and helpful. He said Claphan was a motorcycle enthusiast who repaired and customised bikes when he was not on duty. He served in the T&T Police Service for more than 20 years, the relative said. “Is through the bikes he get into the Police Service. After a while he started to drive around senior officers, including former Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs,” the relative said.
When asked if Claphan would normally assist people when he was off duty, as he did Thursday night, the relative said: “That is the type of guy he was. He always willing to help.” Hours after he was murdered, National Security Minister Emmanuel George and DCP Mervyn Richardson visited Claphan’s family. Acting CoP Williams’s wife, Avason, also visited the family. Williams is on an official overseas trip to a conference in Asia.
ACP Wayne Dick and Senior Supt John Daniel of the Homicide Bureau are investigating Claphan’s murder. Claphan’s killing and two others pushed the toll to 164 for the year.
Colleagues grieving
Deputy Commissioner of Police Mervyn Richardson, in a brief telephone interview yesterday, said the entire Police Service was grieving over Claphan’s death. “We would like to extend condolences to his family. We also want to give them the assurance that the Police Service will help in their time of distress,” Richardson said. He said Claphan’s murder investigation would be both timely and thorough.
He also said the police would continue to carry out their duties in a “professional and dignified” manner to ensure the country is peaceful and productive. Yesterday evening, Police Social and Welfare Association secretary Sgt Michael Seales said its members were traumatised and outraged by the incident. He described the attack as callous. “We would like to extend condolences to Claphan’s family. No words can express how we feel about his loss,” Seales said.
“The association is resolute that its members will maintain a level of professionalism and will respond in a measured way to this act of aggression towards one of its members.” He said the association’s members would uphold the law and continue to defend the country against criminality.