Trinidad Top Cop promises shake-up
(Trinidad Guardian) Police Commissioner Gary Griffith has read the riot act to top ranking police officers saying a shake-up is coming from within the hierarchy of the Police Service in 2019.
In an interview yesterday, Griffith said all police officers will be held accountable.
“I am demanding a strong and vibrant leadership by all who hold senior positions of authority as they are all capable of doing. We would all be held accountable with our performance measures. There must be no weak link,” Griffith said.
He noted that critical posts of ACP Operations and ACP Crime will be under critical assessment.
“The people in these positions will have a big part to play in the direction of the transformation of the TTPS so that there will be better effectiveness in operations for 2019. I need to make sure that they can keep the pace that I intend to move at. I have a strong working executive and those who cannot keep my pace will have to either lead, follow or get out,” Griffith said.
He denied that the transferring of officers had to do with a recent case in which valuable evidence to convict an alleged cybercrime phisher went missing from under the noses of the police. Instead, Griffith said it was a continuation of the transfers which occurred under the Divisional Commanders level.
“There has been strategic reassignments. There might be areas that require specific types of senior officers dealing with the threats and the task at hand. There are others at the divisional commander level and the ACP’s level which I will assess to ensure there is the right fit,” Griffith said.
He added, “I intend to put the right horses for the courses. I plan to put the best fit in the most appropriate places so that I am assessing the capabilities of each individual.”
Saying he planned to restructure the whole Police Service, Griffith said this meant merging some bureaus with others so that there will be collaboration.
He said certain units will not be working in isolation.
“For example, some units will be working closely together. The Financial Investigative Unit will work with the Cyber Crime Unit, Fraud Squad, Professional Standards Bureau and the Anti-Corruption Intelligence Unit,” Griffith said.