Trinidad And Tobago Police Service

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service or TTPS is the primary law enforcement agency of Trinidad and Tobago. It has been in operation for over 200 years.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is the national law enforcement agency of Trinidad and Tobago, responsible for maintaining law and order, protecting life and property, and preventing and detecting crime. Operating under the Police Service Act Chapter 15:01, the TTPS functions as both a civil and para-military body, structured into various divisions, branches, squads, and units deployed across the islands. Its mandate encompasses a broad range of duties, including enforcing laws, apprehending offenders, and ensuring public safety, with a focus on community policing initiatives and modernization efforts to combat contemporary crime trends. The TTPS works in conjunction with other law enforcement bodies, such as the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the Municipal Police Service. Citizens utilize emergency numbers such as 911 and 999 to contact the Police Service.

The TTPS is under the Ministry of National Security, who provides governmental oversight and administrative support. The Minister of National Security is Marvin Gonzales MP who was sworn into the cabinet of the new Prime Minister Stuart Young on 17 March 2025. The ministry also has Keith Scotland SC as Minister in the Ministry of National Security who retains his post from his initial appointment by former PM Keith Rowley. At the time Prime Minister Keith Rowley, said MP for Port of Spain South Keith Scotland will be responsible for police matters.

Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher was suspended by the Police Service Commission on January 31, 2025. DCP Junior Benjamin was confirmed by Parliament to act in the office of Commissioner of Police on February 5, 2025.

History

In 1592 the Spaniards founded the first European settlement, Trinidad's capital town San Jose de Oruna (St Joseph). The Office of the Cabildo or Town Council controlled the Police Force. Duties were restricted to within town. The strength of the Police Force never exceeded six between 1592 and 1792.

After slavery was abolished in 1838, and over 22,000 men and women enjoyed their full civil rights, the responsibility of the police increased and a ‘rural system of police’ had to be established. By the end of 1842 there were twelve police stations and approximately one hundred officers comprising inspectors, sergeants and constables.

In the mid 19th century members of the Metropolitan Police were brought to Trinidad on secondment, thus the Police Force had a very mixed composition as far as racial strains were concerned. During this period the Police Headquarters was housed at the corner of Abercromby and Hart Streets.

The only weapon the policeman carried was his truncheon which was four feet long. Then violence would be met with violence, and a local tradition of the police "beating first and arresting after" was formed. The general pattern of law enforcement in the 1840s was, once arrested the police took the accused to the station or if he was recalcitrant, held him and sent to call the sergeant. All police stations were Courthouses as Magistrates travelled from one Police Station to another. This was until 1844 when trial by jury and the English statutes were introduced into Trinidad.

In 1851 the police was appointed the country's first postmen and mail carriers and the police stations were transformed into Post Offices. The Mounted Branch was established for this purpose. In 1860 the Police Force was relieved of some of these extracurricular duties.

In 1869 an ordinance was initiated for better organisation and discipline of the Police Force. With a more organised Police Force, greater police surveillance of residents was provided.
The Police Headquarters at the corner of St. Vincent and Sackville Streets was completed in 1876 housing approximately four hundred and fifty–two (452) men. Over the years the strength increased and other units were established, such as Traffic Branch in 1930 and Special Branch in 1959.

By 1955 the need for policewomen to deal with juveniles and female offenders had long been overdue. Under Ordinance No. 6 of 195, twelve female officers were drafted into the Force.

A Commission of Enquiry was appointed by the government to probe the administration and discipline of the Police Service. In 1966 the then Governor General assented to the Police Service Act, which enacted the Police Service Regulation 1965. This Act divided the Service into two divisions - the first and second divisions. It also introduced a change from Police Force to Police Service. This change was not only in name but also in operation. The focus shifted from being a militaristic force to a service-oriented organization.

By the 1970s the Police Service had grown in strength to 3,399 members and was placed under the portfolio of the Ministry of National Security. Mr. Francis Eustace Bernard was the first local to be appointed Commissioner of Police in 1973.

In 1881 the Police Headquarters was destroyed by fire which was caused by the kerosene oil lighting system. The Police Headquarters was destroyed for a second time in 1990, this time during the attempted coup. A new Police Administration Building was constructed at the corner of Edward and Sackville Streets the following year housing Administrative offices.

During the past two decades the strength of the service has grown to 6436 officers with several new specialist Units being introduced.

Commissioner of Police

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is led by the Commissioner of Police. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago 123A "the Commissioner of Police shall have the complete power to manage the Police Service and is required to ensure that the human, financial and material resources available to the Service are used in an efficient and effective manner." The Commissioner also has authority over the Special Reserve Police and another major police organisation, the Trinidad and Tobago Municipal Police Service. This authority is granted by the Municipal Corporations Act sections 50 & 51 and the Special Reserve Police Act 15:03. Some of the powers the Commissioner has over these other organisations are:

* Every Municipal Police officer shall be precepted by the Commissioner of Police
* At any time command any Municipal Police Officer to perform duties as may be required to be performed, within their Municipality.
* The general command and superintendence of the Special Reserve Police
* Call out members of the Special Reserve Police on full-time, part-time or temporary service

Independent oversight organisations

The Police Service Commission of Trinidad and Tobago

The Commissioner is under the oversight of The Police Service Commission of Trinidad and Tobago (PSC), an independent body, who is granted this authority under Section 123 of the Constitution. They have the responsibility to nominate persons who will be appointed to hold or act in the office of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police. The appointees must be approved by The House of Representatives of Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. The PSC also monitors the performance of the Commissioner and DCP. The PSC can remove from office and take disciplinary action on the CoP and DCP. Hear appeals from police officers about promotions or disciplinary actions taken by the Commissioner. The PSC comprises five members, a chairman and four other members, who are chosen by the President after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and then approved by Parliament.

The Police Complaints Authority

Another independent oversight body is the Police Complaints Authority. They have the authority to investigate offences committed by police officers. These investigations can be started by either the Authority’s own observations or by offences being known in the public domain. Also by complaints brought forward by the public or any other institution.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

The TTPS also interacts with another independent organisation, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP is an independent office established by the constitution which grants the power to undertake criminal prosecution against persons in any court in Trinidad and Tobago. The DPP,  works with various Governmental, Non-Governmental and international agencies involved in prosecutions matters. The TTPS regularly consults with the DPP in criminal cases as the Director has the power to discontinue any criminal proceedings, whether started by the DPP or others, at any stage in the process. The current Director of Public Prosecution is Roger Gaspard, SC.

Organizational Structure

According to the Ministry of National Security the TTPS has a total staff establishment of 7,884 regular officers, supported by a cadre of 2,561 full-time and 444 part-time Special Reserve Police Officers and 530 permanent civil servants employed via the Public Service Commission and 585 contract civilian employees. The TTPS comprises an Administrative Headquarters, 10 Police Divisions, and 24 Specialist Sections.

The current Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher was suspend by the Police Service Commission on January 31, 2025 pending the outcome of a criminal probe into the acquisition of two sniper rifles for the Strategic Services Agency (SSA). The House of Representatives approved a government motion for DCP Junior Benjamin to be acting Commissioner of Police on February 5, 2025.

The Executive

The "Updated Public Statement Of The Ministry Of National Security 2024" states that the executive of the Police Service comprises the Commissioner of Police and fourteen other Officers:

• One Commissioner of Police

* Three Deputy Commissioners:
# Deputy Commissioner Intelligence and Investigations.
# Deputy Commissioner Operations.
# Deputy Commissioner Administration and Operational Support.

• Eleven Assistant Commissioners:

# Assistant Commissioner North West.
# Assistant Commissioner North East.
# Assistant Commissioner South Central.
# Assistant Commissioner Criminal Division.
# Assistant Commissioner Tobago and Eastern.
# Assistant Commissioner White Collar Crime.
# Assistant Commissioner Central Intelligence Bureau.
# Assistant Commissioner Administration.
# Assistant Commissioner Tactical Support.
# Assistant Commissioner Specialized Support.
# Assistant Commissioner of Police, Special Branch

Ranks

According to the Police service Act section 7 the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is divided into two divisions First and Second Division. The first and second schedule of the Act gives the rank structure which are: the First division from Commissioner to Assistant Superintendent and the Second division from Inspector to Constable

* First Division
** Commissioner
** Deputy Commissioner
** Assistant Commissioner
** Senior Superintendent
** Superintendent
** Assistant Superintendent
* Second Division
** Inspector
** Sergeant
** Corporal
** Constable

Specialist Units/Sections

The TTPS is divided into various squads and units including:
* Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau, formerly known as the Special Investigations Unit, which was part of the Criminal Investigations Department
* Air Support Unit
* Criminal Investigations Department
** Fingerprint Bureau
** Police Photography Unit
** Robbery Squad
** Stolen Vehicles Squad
** Interpol Bureau
** Anti Kidnapping Unit
** Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit
* Court and Process Branch
* Cyber and Social Media Unit
* Financial Investigation Branch (FIB)
* Fraud Squad
* Guard And Emergency Branch (GEB), also known as Riot Squad or Tactical Unit
* Homicide Bureau of Investigations
* Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF)
* Canine unit
* Mounted Branch
* Organized Crime and Intelligence Unit
* Police Academy, formerly known as St. James Barracks
* Special Branch
** Research and Analytical Unit (RAU), formerly part of the Cyber Crime Unit
* Special Reserve Police
* Trinidad And Tobago Police Band

.

Equipment

Uniforms

As of Oct 18, 2024, all police officers, with the exception of four operational units,(the Guard and Emergency Branch, the Multi Operational Police Section, the Inter Agency Task Force and the National Operation Task Force) have been ordered by then Police Commissioner Erla Christopher to return their police tactical kits. This change was enacted because of criminals impersonating police officers to commit crimes such as robberies, assaults, kidnappings, and even murders.
* Senior officers wear beige Khaki drill Guayabera shirts and trousers, worn with black Sam Browne Belts
* For formal dress, male officers wear white shirts and black trousers
* For formal dress, female officers wear white shirts and dark blue skirts
* None task-force or regular officers wear, grey shirts with dark blue trousers
* Females wear dark blue shirts with skirts or pants worn with black Sam Browne Belts
* the Guard and Emergency Branch, the Multi Operational Police Section, the Inter Agency Task Force and the National Operation Task Force officers wear digital-urban camouflage kits (BDU)

Personal equipment

In August of 2015, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service signed a deal to acquire the SIG Sauer P229 and SIG Pro to replace some of their older firearms which include the Smith & Wesson M&P.The P229 will be issued all ordinary police officers, while the SIG Pro would be issued to members of the Special Branch Unit.
On November 17, 2017, the Ministry of Works and Transport released a statement indicating Minister Rohan Sinanan signed an order to acquire more LIDAR speed guns for the TTPS. In 2018, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service began planning to equip its officers with body cameras, pepper spray, and tasers. In 2019, TTPS made plans to acquire more body cameras, tasers, and pepper sprays to give to their officers.

Vehicles

In January of 2011, it was announced that the air fleet of the former Special Anti-Crime Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (SAUTT), which was made up of four helicopters and an airship, had been absorbed into the TTPS. The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Air Support unit formerly operated two BO 105 helicopters. During his 2025 budget presentation, Finance Minister Colm Imbert promised 2,000 new TTPS vehicles over the next three years. Of the $1 billion spent by the TTPS between 2013 and 2023, at least $299 million was spent on purchasing vehicles, $368 million on maintenance and $172 million on rentals.Between 2014 and 2023, the TTPS has spent upwards of $25 billion overall, Finance Ministry documents stated.

Budget

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service receives its financial allocations in the national budget through the Ministry of National Security. The Ministry has two accounting officers a Permanent Secretary who is responsible for the ministry and the various divisions and agencies under it, and the Commissioner of Police who is responsible for the Police service. (note 3)

Note 1: Information from page16 of a summary of expenditure for the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) for the period 2019-2025 By the FINANCIAL SCRUTINY UNIT o
Office of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago

Note 2: Quote from on page 16 in summary "For the Fiscal Years 2019-2023, actual figures were used to calculate the total allocation. However, estimates were used to calculate the total allocation for the Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025."

Note 3: Information from page 3 of th
UPDATED PUBLIC STATEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL SECURITY 2024

Police Officer Deaths

While on-duty police officer fatalities are relatively infrequent, with ten officers killed between 1982 and 2024, off-duty deaths are more common. Notably, seven off-duty officers were killed in 2024 alone. Many of these off-duty deaths occur while officers are performing private security, often at supermarkets and retail stores, a practice requiring Commissioner's permission. In September 2014, the People’s Partnership government introduced a TT$1 million death benefit grant for the families of officers killed on duty. According to Guardian Media, as of November 2024, three families have received this grant.

National Awards

See also: Orders, decorations, and medals of Trinidad and Tobago

See also

* Crime in Trinidad and Tobago
* Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force

References

External links

*

Ministry of National Security: TTPS



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