Cops can't drive manual cars

NEWLY sworn in members of the Police Service Commission yesterday hit the field to get a first-hand view on operations in the Police Service

Led by its chairman Christopher Thomas, the officials met with officers at the West End Police Station, in Diego Martin, who took the opportunity to offer suggestions to make their job more effective.

Inspector Glenda Smith said there was an urgent "need to get police officers back in uniform, since police stations are the gut of the service."

Thomas said the visit was the first of a series of visits to the five model stations throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

At yesterday's visit, a visibly vocal Smith said the public needed to see the presence of officers more to ensure that better policing took place.

"The whole idea of police in plain clothes is not working, we need to get people back in uniform," Smith said.

Adding that vehicles used at the station, some were manual, Smith said some of the officers at the station only knew how to drive an automatic vehicle.

Senior Superintendent of the Western Division Roderick Roach said what could be done to facilitate officers who did not know how to operate a manual vehicle was to ensure that an extra month in training at the Police Barracks where officers are taught how to drive a manual vehicle.

The need for more furniture, as well as the issue of manpower and counselling for police officers were also raised during the tour.

Can you believe that ah fockin police officer cannot drive ah fockin manual vehicle? Out of this focking world.

Den again these mudder cont doh even have 3 good fockin CXC pass. What else you expect. Dem could solve anything?

Fock boy we dooooomed!