Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro has responded to public concern following last week’s police-involved shooting in St. Augustine, which left a male driver dead and a female passenger hospitalised.
In a statement on Monday, the Commissioner offered his condolences to the affected families and advised that personnel from the TTPS Victim and Witness Support Unit have been engaged.
Commissioner Guevarro also acknowledged a video circulating on social media of the incident but noted this video shows only a fraction of the incident.
“The shooting incident followed a 12-minute vehicle pursuit that began in Maloney in the Northern Division North at 12:30pm and ended in St. Augustine, in North Central Division, at 12:42pm. I want to highlight that the video shared publicly represents only the final seconds of this pursuit and does not reflect the full scope of the events.”
After reviewing the evidence, including the circulating video, the CoP said he will not be taking action against the officers. He also assured that separate investigations are underway to ensure accountability.
“Having reviewed the evidence gathered thus far, including the same video posted online, I find no basis at this time to suspend or place any officer on administrative leave. However, I have recommended counselling for the officers involved, and in keeping with our commitment to transparency and accountability, a First Division officer has been appointed to lead the investigation. Simultaneously, the Police Complaints Authority, which is an independent body to the TTPS, as well as the Professional Standards Bureau, are conducting independent inquiries.”
Commissioner Guevarro also addressed concerns about emergency powers, clarifying that the incident occurred during routine police operations.
“While this footage has sparked widespread commentary and calls for the suspension of the officers involved and abuse of police powers under a State of Emergency, it is critical to clarify that the incident did not occur because of any State of Emergency or using any emergency powers granted to the police under the SOE. This was strictly routine police functions being carried out when this incident occurred.”
Regarding public access to evidence, Commissioner Guevarro advised caution. “While I had considered releasing additional video recordings and audio in the public interest, legal advice cautioned against doing so, as it may prejudice the integrity of the investigation. The TTPS remains committed to accountability, but that accountability must be exercised fairly and without compromising due process. Should any wrongdoing be identified upon completion of these investigations, decisive and appropriate action will be taken.”
The Police Commissioner appealed to the public to allow the investigative process to proceed. He also urged members of the public to share any relevant information with investigators and to refrain from posting potential evidence online, as this may compromise the ongoing inquiries.