HEAD of the Police Social and Welfare Association (TTPSSWA) Gideon Dickson says officers and the organisation are in support of the move to deploy Trinidad-based officers in Tobago, but there are some logistic issues to consider if the plan is to become permanent.

On July 9, hours after Tobago recorded its first-ever quadruple murder, when the last of four victims in a shooting in Black Rock died, Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher announced several initiatives she believed would stem the increasing number of violent crimes being perpetrated on the island.

Those included additional officers from the Guard and Emergency Branch and the Inter-Agency Task Force, CCTV cameras, intelligence-gathering from the cybercrime unit and additional forensic resources.

The murders took the island’s 2024 murder total to 16 – two more than the 2023 record high.

At a media briefing after a National Security Council meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister, Central Administrative Service, in Scarborough, the Prime Minister called on Tobagonians to work with the police officers who will be deployed from Trinidad to help fight crime.

Dr Rowley urged the people of Tobago to view the operation as beneficial rather than a violation of their rights, as he noted approximately 90 per cent of the police officers in Tobago were Tobagonians, and while that had advantages, it also had drawbacks, owing to “familiarity.”

Dickson said from his information, officers were eager to go, as the plan was communicated to them early and they bought into the strategy.

“Persons are seeing it as an opportunity to contribute to what is happening across there in a positive way. So persons are getting an opportunity and weighing in as to whether they can make it and in what field they will be able to go across and make their contribution.”

Asked how officers are being selected, he explained the senior superintendents at the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB) and the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) were responsible for selecting and rotating officers.

Pressed further on the selection process and if, for example, family arrangements will be considered, Dickson said, “I can tell you all variables are being taken into consideration.”

He said he was not in a position to speak on the allowances or costs involved and directed those questions to the Office of the CoP, but confirmed officers would be compensated additionally.

“The officers will be paid both for the time away from their family and for their time on the ground.”

He said he did not know the exact number of officers being sent and added, for operational reasons, he did not feel it should be disclosed.

Newsday understands, though, while the exact number of officers currently stationed in Tobago remains uncertain, there are 130 officers fewer than the sanctioned strength.

A senior officer confirmed to Newsday that police operations in Tobago were “severely understaffed.

“We are not at full capacity and if they are thinking about sending additional boots on the groun