High expectations for new ACPS in high-murder divisions

Shane Superville

Senior reporter

[email protected]

On September 12, eight new assistant commissioners of police (ACPs) and six new senior superintendents received their letters of appointment for units and divisions. The shift in leadership positions of the police executive comes as the number of murders continues to rise with 454 recorded killings on Saturday, compared to 426 for the same period in 2023.

Data collected by the TTPS Crime and Problem Analysis (CAPA) branch shows that the Port-of-Spain, Eastern and Tobago divisions have the highest number of murders due to gang violence. But while the public and junior officers look to their new divisional commanders for new strategies against criminals, the newly appointed officers are confronted with long-standing problems and emerging challenges in the areas under their watch.

Western and Port-of-Spain Divisions

Current ACP North-West Ryan Khan was head of the Eastern Division for four years before being appointed ACP South-Central in August. His current portfolio sees him responsible for the Western and Port-of-Spain divisions, where there has been turf warfare between Sixx and Seven factions since mid-2023.

Between January 1 and September 16, there were 72 murders in the Port-of-Spain division, compared to 31 murders in the same period in 2023.

The use of high powered automatic weapons in these attacks has led to several multiple homicides in the Western and Port-of-Spain divisions so far this year. One of the most reported occurred in March at Harpe Place, where five people, Rudolph Donnie James, Randy Graves, police band member Sgt Larry Phillip, Pete Noray and Devon Jack, were killed in a drive-by shooting.

In May, four people were killed in Powder Magazine, Cocorite, when gunmen opened fire on them outside Phase 1: 22-year-old Shaquille Ottley, Sadiki Ottley, 31, Jonathan Osmond, 36, and Antonio Jack, 57.

The gang war has also been fought on the grounds of public health facilities. The first incident was in June at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, when gunmen carrying out an attack in Gonzales killed 21-year-old Jadon Reyes and wounded three others. Survivors Peter Abdul Williams, Kevin King and Jonathan Arjoon were taken to the Port-of-Spain General Hospital but were followed by the gunmen who killed them there before escaping.

Earlier this month, hospital worker Jamaal Watts was shot and killed at the St. James Medical Complex.

Khan, who has some experience of policing in the Port-of-Spain Division, said he wants to use his experience in the Eastern Division to combat crime in the country’s capital.

“The time I spent in both places has given me valuable insights into crime prevention and community engagement,” he said.

“In both divisions, we have focused on intelligence-driven operations, community policing and strengthening partnerships with all stakeholders. These strategies are highly adaptable and form an integral part of the Commissioner’s strategy to reduce violence.

“I believe that by building on what was done previously by the former ACP and continuing to implement the violence reduction strategies, we can see a significant reduction in crime.”

Eastern Division

Trinidad’s east coast is often used by smugglers to transport drugs, weapons and migrants from neighboring Venezuela.

While police struggle to control the flow of contraband into the bays and inlets of Toco and Mayaro, gang violence is an emerging threat in the region.

Between January 1 and September 16, there were 41 homicides in the Eastern Division, compared to 22 in the same period in 2023. Flares of violence in Sangre Grande, Toco and Manzanilla have been attributed to an ongoing gang war. Homicide investigators say the gang feuds involve different cliques of gangs in eastern Trinidad and that criminals have been involved in certain areas in Carapo, Maloney, Arouca and Beetham Gardens.

Snr Supt Christopher Paponette was assigned to the Eastern Division, which stretches from Matelot in the north to Rio Claro in the south, covering the east coast of Trinidad and bordering the Northern Division North, the Central and Southern Divisions.

During his career in the police force, Paponette has served in various intelligence agencies, including the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, the CID, the Criminal Gang and Intelligence Unit, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and Northern Division North.

Paponette said he was confident that his years of experience in various elite units would be an asset in managing the Eastern Division’s policing capabilities and formulating an effective crime-fighting strategy.

“I have held various leadership positions within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, dealing with some of the most challenging issues from organised crime and violent gangs to drugs and high-profile investigations.

“I have always believed that effective policing is not just about enforcing the law, but also about creating partnerships with the community.

“To the residents of the Eastern Division, I want to say that my approach will be rooted in openness and genuine collaboration. I recognize that the safety and well-being of this community is not achieved through policing alone, but through strong relationships between the police and the people.”

Paponette succeeds Snr Supt Claire Guy-Alleyne, who officers said was the shortest-serving chief of the Eastern Division after being appointed in June.

Northern Division

The sheer size and population density of the Northern Division have made it a difficult area to police over the years. The Division covers a significant portion of the east-west corridor, including the North Eastern, North Central and Northern North Divisions. Administered by a single ACP and three Senior Superintendents, it effectively begins in Morvant and ends in Cumuto, encompassing a mix of urban townships, vast rural farmland, densely forested hills, hospitals, schools, government offices, three prisons and an international airport.

Formerly led by Arima resident ACP Oswain Subero, it experienced a decline in murder rates in all three segments, according to CAPA data. From January 1 to September 16, the North Eastern Division had 52 murders compared to 59 in the same period last year; the North Central Division reported 35 murders this year compared to 56 in 2023; while the Northern Division North had 67 murders last year compared to 44 this year.

Subero, who has now been assigned to the Tobago division, said he had to contact the three chief inspectors from the Northeast, North Central and North North divisions to determine what had caused the success.

When asked if he felt that having lived in Arima for many years was an advantage in formulating strategies for the area, Subero said that his knowledge of the area helped him understand the layout and residents, but he commended his team for a job well done.

“The knowledge of the officers, particularly ASP Ishmael Pitt, who has the practical experience of the division,” he said.

An officer assigned to an intelligence unit, Northern Division, said the drop in killings was due to the TTPS ‘blue line’ operations, which saw officers from various sections temporarily assigned to operational units earlier this year. He said the improved numbers allowed for wider coverage of areas for patrols, searches and road blocks.

“It was basically a situation where they were flooding the streets with police. There were a lot of searches and just more manpower and more officers were called upon to do tasks.”

Subero will be succeeded by former Homicide Bureau of Investigations chief ACP Rishi Singh.

The Northern Division was not the only area to see a fall in murders for the year so far. The Central Division saw a slight nine percent drop between January and September and the South Western Division reported a 13 percent drop in murders.

Police Union: No Grace Period for ACPS

Vice Chairman of the TTPS Social Welfare Association (TTPSSWA), Acting ASP Ishmael Pitt, called on junior officers to give their full support to the newly appointed leaders. He noted that clear communication between division commanders and their subordinates would improve workflow and strengthen operational capabilities in high-crime divisions.

Pitt said junior officers had a responsibility to mentor their leaders as any crime-fighting initiative relied on their cooperation.

“If that is the case, we do not have that level of commitment and dedication from our younger officers, then we are spinning in the mud and that is why we will urge older officers who are in that position to understand the dynamics and even the working conditions and the kind of challenges that younger officers face,” he said.

“When we understand these things, we can make the right decision-making to mitigate risk and ensure our officers have the best working environment, so we have more productive police officers.”

Recognizing that some officers would now be responsible for divisions in which they had no previous experience, Pitt said an adjustment to geography, demographics and challenges was inevitable. However, he stressed that officers should familiarize themselves with their new districts as quickly as possible.

“Because we know these communities and the culture within these communities well, we can much better determine which decisions we need to make.

“Change is continuous; therefore, the organization will continue to change to meet the challenge and demands.”

As September draws to a close, there are only three months left in 2024. Between December and February, police across all divisions and units will be activated to provide heightened security for the Christmas and Carnival seasons. This massive mobilization of resources within a few months requires the newly minted commanders to familiarize themselves with their divisions for best results.

New appointments (place in box)

• ACP North West Ryan Khan – Responsible for West and Port of Spain departments

• ACP Northern Rishi Singh: In charge of North East, North Central and North Divisions

• Snr Supt North Central Division Michael Pierre: responsible for the station districts of St Joseph, Maracas St Joseph, Tunapuna, Piarco and Arouca

• Snr Supt Christopher Paponette Eastern Division: responsible for the districts of Valencia, Sangre Grande, Matelot, Mayaro, Manzanilla and Rio Claro

• ACP South Central Wayne Mystar: responsible for the Central, South and Southwest departments

• ACP Tobago Oswain Subero: Responsible for the Tobago Division

• ACP Administration Richard Smith

• Snr Supt Inter-Agency Task Force Winston Maharaj • Snr Supt Guard and Emergency Branch Neil Brandon John

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