Trinidad and Tobago Police Service

Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
The Logo of the TTPS
Abbreviation	T.T.P.S
Motto	To Protect and Serve with P.R.I.D.E.
Agency overview
Formed	1592
Employees	6500
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	T&T
Size	1,981 square miles (5,130 km2)
Population	1,310,000 (January, 2011)
Legal jurisdiction	Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Primary governing body	Government of Trinidad And Tobago
Secondary governing body	National Security Council
Constituting instrument	Police Service Act Chapter 15:01
General nature	Civilian police
Operational structure
Overseen by	The Police Service Commission
Headquarters	Police Administration Building, Edward and Sackville Street, Port of Spain
Police Officers	6500
Elected officers responsible	Fitzgerald Hinds, Minister of National Security Keith Scotland, SC, Minister in Ministry Of National Security
Agency executive	Junior Benjamin, Acting Commissioner of Police
Parent agency	Ministry of National Security
Child agency	Special Reserve Police
Facilities
Police Stations	84
Notables
Programme	Police Youth Club (P.Y.C)
Website
www.ttps.gov.tt

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.

At a post-Cabinet media briefing on July 25, 2024 the Prime Minister, said MP for Port of Spain South Keith Scotland has been named a minister in the Ministry of National Security. He will be responsible for police matters. Fitzgerald Hinds will remain the Minister of National Security.

On February 5, 2025 the House of Representatives unanimously approved a government motion for DCP Benjamin to be acting Commissioner of Police (CoP). The follows the suspension of the suspension of CoP Erla Harewood-Christopher amid a police probe into the import of two sniper rifles for the Strategic Services Agency.

History

San Fernando Police Administration Building

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.

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.

Leadership

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is led by a Commissioner of Police (CoP). The Commissioner is under the oversight of The Police Service Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, who has 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 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.

Commissioners of Police

Years	Name
1902- 1907	Colonel Herbert E.J.Brake C.B D.S
1907-1916	Colonel George Douglas Twain C.M
1916-1930	Colonel George Herbert May J.I.G V
1931-1938	Colonel Arthur Stephen Mavrogordato
1938-1948	Colonel Walter Angus Muller C.M.G C. St. J.
1949-1962	Colonel Eric Hammet Fairfax Beadon G.B 1
1962-1966	George Thomas Whitmore Carr C.V.G G.B.E Q.P.M E
1966-1970	James Porter Reid M.G.M Q.P
1970-1973	Francis Eustace Bernard M.G.M Q.P
1973-1978	Claud Anthony May M.G.
1978-1987	Randolph-Urich Burroughs M.O.M T
1987-1990	Louis Jim Rodriguez
1990-1996	Jules Bernard
1996-1998	Noor K. Mohammed
1998-2003	Hilton Guy
2003-2004	Everald Snaggs
2004-2007	Trevor Paul
2007-2010	James Philbert
2010-2012	Dwayne Gibbs
2012-2018	Stephen Williams
2018-2021	Gary Griffith
2021-2022	Mc Donald Jacob
2023-2025	Erla Harewood-Christopher
2025-	Junior Benjamin

Structure

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 P226 and SIG Pro to replace some of their older firearms which include the Smith & Wesson M&P.The P226 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

T.T.P.S Vehicle

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.

T.T.PS Emergency Response Patrol (E.R.P) (Tobago Division) Vehicle

See also

• Crime in Trinidad and Tobago
• Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force

External links

• Official website