The two Special Reserve Police (SRP) accused of allegedly assaulting a disabled man on a wheelchair in San Fernando on Saturday have been taken off active duty. The announcement was made yesterday by acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams and comes days after a video of the incident sparked massive public outcry after it was posted on several social media Web sites on Monday.
Addressing yesterday’s weekly police press briefing at the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, Williams described the incident as a “blatant abuse of power.” He said: “As the head of the TTPS I feel compelled to strongly condemn such reprehensible behaviour by the SRPs.”
As part of his “swift and decisive” response to the controversial video, Williams said he decided to exercise his power to temporarily cease their activity as SRPs, to withdraw their firearm precepts and seize their uniforms and other police issued items. “That is short of revoking their appointment as for me to do that I must comply with the rules of natural justice and the disciplinary procedure in the police service regulations,” Williams said.
He further explained that the SRP’s would receive no pay during the period of the investigation as they work under an employment scheme whether they are paid based on when they are called upon by the TTPS to work. “If they were members of the TTPS the regulations would provide that the Police Service Commission can only get as far as to cutting their pay by up to a half,” Williams said.
Williams also thanked the unidentified person who recorded the video and posted it as he said the incident may have left unchecked if this was not done. “Police officers are not above the law and they must comply with it. That is why we encourage members of the public to record events which are inconsistent with police functions and bring it to our attention,” Williams said.
Williams admitted that the incident, coupled with that of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Peter Reyes, had the potential to damage to public trust and confidence the Police Service was attempting to improve over the past year. When asked to explain the difference in his decision pertaining to ACP Reyes, who was this week transferred from heading the Tobago Division following a incident aboard a domestic flight two weeks ago, Williams identified the video recording of the SRPs as the main factor.
“The clip is obvious and that is why I could speak strongly about it...I can actually see the event so I can take deliberate action,” Williams said as he claimed there were several inconsistencies between media reports on Reyes’ incident and statements given by eyewitnesses. “That is why in the first instance you have to do an investigation to get the facts of the matter to make a determination whether a criminal offence or any other offences would have been committed,” Williams said.
While he said in both cases he chose to take action that would ensure fairness to the parties involved, Williams expressed the view the Police Service’s disciplinary regulations were outdated and time consuming.
“It is a pretty slow process because of the bureaucracy built in to the regulations. What i would like to see is a review of the procedures so we can shorten process for speedier tribunals so, we can at the end of the day reach the point where persons can receive the highest level of discipline,” Williams said.