"A miracle" is what colleagues of PC Anson Benjamin are praying for.
Their prayers intensified yesterday because doctors at the San Fernando General Hospital could not remove the bullet in Benjamin's head, after he was shot by bandits while responding to a robbery on Monday night.
Benjamin was clinging to life on life support in the Intensive Care Unit last night and is expected to undergo further testing soon. He underwent a CT scan which showed severe brain damage, which was why surgeons could not immediately operate to remove the bullet.
Benjamin, 42, of Pleasantville, is attached to the Ste Madeleine Police Station and had 16 years' service as of March 1.
A report stated that the owners of Chao Yong Supermarket had contacted police after noticing two men lurking at the back the building, located at the corner of the Naparima/Mayaro Road and Allamby Street, St Clement, on their closed circuit television system.
Responding to the report around 8.30 pm, Benjamin and a female constable went to the back of the building where one of the suspects, upon seeing them, immediately fired a shot. Benjamin was hit in the head and the gunmen escaped into bushes at the back of the compound while the other officer took cover. It is believed the gunmen stole Benjamin's service firearm before running off.
Scores of officers, including Snr Supt Irwin Hackshaw, ASP Rawle Ramdeo, ASP Yusuff Gaffar, Insp Don Gajadhar and the Region III Homicide Bureau, led by Sgt Hajaree, gathered at the scene, many of them in shock.
Investigators said the area was dark and it was possible that Benjamin did not see the gunmen. While the gunmen were not able to steal anything, investigators said it appeared they did surveillance on the supermarket before and knew the movements of the employees. It is believed that the men were waiting for the owner to open the back door to head upstairs so they could pounce on him.
It was not the first time the Chinese supermarket had been targeted and they previously paid for a police officer to be stationed there. However, they later opted to hire civilian security to reduce costs. The owners, who live upstairs, stayed inside for hours until police ordered them to come out.
The National Security helicopter, Viper One, carried out aerial surveillance as the Canine Unit scoured the bushes nearby in the hope of catching the men. Soldiers were also deployed in the search of areas as far as Mosquito Creek and Princes Town, but no one was held.
Police said the WPC, who was not identified as a protective measure, was taken back to the station where she was consoled by her colleagues. ASP Gaffar said she is expected to undergo counselling from the Victim and Witness Support Unit and the division's counsellor.
Benjamin is well known throughout the Southern Division, as he served in the San Fernando Criminal Investigations Department and Witness Protection Unit. He and his brother, Ag Cpl Derrick, followed the career path of their father, who died earlier this year. No adult was at Benjamin's home when the T&T Guardian visited yesterday, but neighbours described him as a good person in the community. Many were in shock and are hoping for a miraculous recovery.
More training needed
Questions were raised at the scene about whether the officers approached the situation properly and whether there should have been more officers responding to the robbery, given the possibility that the suspects could have been armed.
According to Benjamin's batch mate at the Police Training Academy, now Police Service Social and Welfare Association president, Insp Anand Ramesar, the TTPS should train officers in assessing the risk involved in each situation.
"For the association, one of the areas we want to see is risk assessment. Our officers must be able to do some quick analysis in any given situation and determine what are the risks, so that they can make decisions that will preserve their lives and the lives of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago ... at the same time be able to apprehend suspects in relation to matters under their investigation," he said.
While there is continuous training offered by the Guard and Emergency, the Inter Agency Task Force and Multi Operational Police Service units, he said there is no system to ensure officers take advantage of the various courses. This was due to their heavy workload, resulting in little time off from their daily duties.