Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs has expressed horror and shock over the number of police officers who are allegedly involved in criminal matters.He said these errant officers were giving the service a bad name.Gibbs is now moving swiftly to ensure that matters involving these officers are dealt with expeditiously."The Commissioner of Police is appalled by the recent incidents involving police officers," a statement issued by the Police Public Affairs Unit said yesterday.
The statement continued, "The commissioner said these incidents reflect poorly on the entire service and as such has initiated proceedings to ensure that the matters are dealt with expeditiously and with due diligence." Up until Monday evening, three police officers were scheduled to appear before several identification parades in Couva and San Fernando.Two of the police officers who are attached to the Couva Police Station, are accused of kidnapping and robbing Vishnu Balgobin, 22, and his friend, 18.
That incident is alleged to have occurred around 7 pm last Friday. The men claimed they were handcuffed, thrown into the tray of a police vehicle, robbed of US$2,000, beaten and dropped off at an unknown location.In the other incident, a policeman attached to the Mon Repos, station, in the Southern Division, has been detained by police in connection with the murder of Donny Brooks.Brooks, a father of five, was playing games on the computer with his son at their Anguloa Drive, Orchid Gardens, home around 8 pm when the gunman entered and shot him.Brooks' wife, Dana Bhajan, and two children, ages four and three, were in an upstairs bedroom when they heard the shots. The gunman escaped through the front door.