Acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams has appointed Deputy Commissioner Glen Hackett to investigate allegations that Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Peter Reyes was non compliant on a Caribbean Airlines flight to Tobago and that he uttered racist remarks. Williams revealed this in a telephone interview yesterday. On Thursday evening Reyes had to disembark from the flight after refusing to switch off his cellular phone.
A report was sent to Caribbean Airlines and the captain of the flight and two crew members reported the incident to the Piarco Police Station. Williams said he had assigned Hackett to investigate the matter when it was brought to his attention on Friday. “I haven’t set a timeline for him but he will treat the matter with urgency,” Williams said. “The point I would make is that the investigation has to unfold and when the matter is completed then a determination will be made.”
Once the investigation is complete, Williams said, he will decide whether Reyes committed a criminal offence, a disciplinary offence or no offence at all. “If it is determined that he committed a criminal offence, then he will be persecuted.” Asked about allegations that ACP Reyes made racist remarks while on the flight, Williams said all of the allegations made by the captain of the aircraft and his crew would be investigated. Minister of National Security Gary Griffith reserved comment on the issue.
“It would be inappropriate for me to comment on this matter until a full investigation is conducted and report submitted by the CoP, which can only be done after all information is received by all sides,” Griffith said. ACP Reyes was recently promoted to Tobago to treat with crime there, following the murder of a German couple—Hubertus Keil, 74, and Brigid Keil, 71, who were chopped to death at Minister’s Bay, Bacolet last month. Williams said ACP Reyes was stationed in Tobago where he was assigned.
ACP Reyes has been a police officer for the past 37 years and replaced ACP Brian Headley who recently went on pre-retirement leave.