The Commissioner of Police is defending the leadership and operational direction of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, addressing internal accountability, staffing pressures, and crime-fighting strategies.
His comments come amid continued public discussion on policing effectiveness and reform.
Top Cop Allister Guevarro says leadership within the TTPS is focused on maintaining integrity, improving discipline, and ensuring negative elements within the organisation are addressed.
“I am the leader of the organisation, and its for me to take decisions and operate in a particular way with integrity and everything else that comes with the office to ensure that, that perception of the leader also filters down to the general members of the staff. And how do we go about this? We try to root out the negative elements within the society or within the police service itself.”
He also pointed to internal accountability systems, including oversight bodies and disciplinary units, saying the service has mechanisms in place to investigate and address misconduct.
The Commissioner highlighted staffing shortages and operational constraints, noting that leave, vacancies, and workload pressures reduce the number of officers available for duty at any given time.
On public communication, he said transparency remains a priority for the TTPS.
“I know that we always have the detractors in the public sphere. We cannot please everyone by what we do and by the decisions that we make. But I just want to urge persons that there are things called Laws in Trinidad and Tobago. And the TTPS is a law enforcement agency. And thus, if you breach the laws you’ll be held accountable. My officers will try to do so in a very professional manner.”
The Commissioner says the TTPS remains committed to professionalism, accountability, and ongoing efforts to reduce serious crime while improving public trust.