A high-ranking police officer and the leader of the police’s union have voiced their support for the process and the outcomes of the latest round of promotions within the police.

On September 12, the police announced promotions of eight officers to the rank of assistant police commissioner (ACP). They were given their instruments of promotion at a ceremony held at the Solomon Mc Leod Lecture Theatre at the Police Administration Building in Port of Spain on Thursday.

Contacted for comment, Police Social and Welfare Association president Gideon Dickson and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations Junior Benjamin both said the promotions would only serve to improve the service.

Benjamin said, “The merit-based system is so important, so that we can continue to build that level of morale within the service. That is needed now in order to build a more stable police service that is able to deal with the crime situation and affect the level of leadership that would be transformational in really bringing forth the quality of service that we want in the future.”

Dickson said the promotions were, for several of the officers, recognition of years of hard work.

“What that does for the organisation is confirm these people, who have a body of work behind them, into substantive offices,” Dickson said “Promotion on the whole has an effect on officers in a positive way, and it also has an effect on officers who were not successful.

"Every time you do the promotion, you have more officers vying for fewer posts or vacancies. But nonetheless, promotions is one of the significant variables that could be used to recognise, salute, motivate and enocourge good performance. So as it is, we are saying it is a step in the right direction.”

Dickson pointed out some of the officers began applying for promotions from as early as 2006.

“They have witnessed between six and seven promotions,” Dickson said.

The officers who were promoted to the rank of ACP were Curt Simon, Richard Smith, Andy Teewarie, Brian Soodeen, Anand Ramesar, Anthony Remy and Rishi Singh,

Officers who were appointed to the rank of senior superintendent were Roger Alexander, Michael Jackma, Arlet Groome, Brian Ramphal, Andrew John and Christopher Paponette.

Process above board

Two more openings in the rank of ACP are still open, as High Court injunctions ordered Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher to leave the spaces open while two officers contest the procedure in court.

The officers claim the process was flawed on the grounds that the oral interview panel may have had a bias.

Minister in the Ministry of National Security Keith Scotland was hesitant to comment on the process when asked by Newsday, noting that the process was under the purview of the police commissioner.

“More importantly, if there are matters before the court, I know enough to know that it is sub-judice. Therefore, I do not wish to comment and I would await the outcome of both the process and the court matter,” he said.

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