ISSUE ONE

THIS ISSUE TranSformaTIonand modErnIzaTIon

SERV

ICE

THE

A pArt of the trINIDAD & toBAGo poLICe SerVICe 21St CeNtury poLICING INItIAtIVe

ThEBrIEf

Editor’s NoteSTEPPING INTO TOMORROW...

Welcome to The Service, a quarterly newsletter that takes you inside the lives, practices and

policies of your Trinidad & Tobago Police Service. The Service’s goal is to present the public

with a better, more comprehensive understanding of what 21st Century Policing is meant to

be. This newsletter is an initiative championed by hardworking and dedicated police officers

and led by the Commissioner. The goal in mind is crime prevention and suppression.

WHAT’S INSIDE

In this issue you will meet heroes of Community Policing. Hear from PC Sharbodie and the

St. James Youth Programme, now in its 18th year, and from Inspector Curtis Paul and the

Laventille Youth Programme.

Also, is Community Policing “soft”? We find out the real story.

Policing is as much psychological as it is physical. Provost, Watt, TTPS Training Academy, St.

James takes us through the practices, policies and psychology for both new recruits and

existing officers. And what exactly does 21st Century Policing really mean for the TTPS and

the citizenry at large? Deputy Commissioner Ewatski shares his views. Plus it’s the sign of

things to come, take a look at the all new Western Division headquarters.

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

We asked ourselves, ‘what can we be doing better?’ in terms of being the Police Service you

can believe in. The answer comes in the changes that have been made and will continue to

be made as we strive to make the Trinidad & Tobago Police Service the standard. The goal

of the TTPS is to be the Gold Standard of policing here and throughout the Caribbean. To do

that, every effort must be made to present our best selves to the public at all times. Officers

must be equipped with the tools and the training necessary to achieve success.

The TTPS is stepping into tomorrow, creating a Police Service that is caring, competent and

committed to the people of Trinidad & Tobago. Expect a more technologically advanced

service. Expect to see a greater presence within communities. Expect more patrols. Know that

your protectors at the TTPS are on the ball and ready for your call.

Welcome to The Service.

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STEPPInG InTo TomorroW:What it means to be a 21st Century Police Service

aT YoUr SErVICE:deputy Police CommissionerJack Ewatski

ToTaL TranSformaTIon

aT YoUr SErVICE:Police Commissioner dwayne Gibbs

PoLICInG:a Passion for the People

In THE LInE of SErVICE

Q&a with Inspector Curtis Paul

VISIon:To be the national provider of professional policing services.

mISSIon:To promote safety, security and stability for the nation by upholding the laws firmly and fairly, while ensuring prompt, courteous and professional service in partnership with the community.

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STEPPING INTOTOMOrrOW What it means to be a

21st Century Police Service.

A more efficient, effective, technology-driven Police Service.

A new day is close at hand. The Trinidad & Tobago

Police Service will be implementing a pilot program

in the Western Division which will see a transformation

in the way policing is seen and done. This Division

includes areas such as St. James, Petit Valley, Maraval

and Diego Martin among others.

New technologies, new systems and procedures are

being rolled out in order to create a Police Service that

will not simply function but also thrive in a modern

world.

WhAT DoeS 21ST CeNTury PoliCiNg MeAN?

in a nutshell, it’s about building a better Police Service

in Trinidad & Tobago. it’s about living the gold Standard,

presenting our best selves to the public at all times. To

do that, officers must be equipped with the tools and

the training necessary to achieve success. That’s why

this Pilot Programme is so important. The success of

our Western Division Franchise will be the springboard

for change among all TTPS Divisions. The Western

Division is indeed our Flagship Division

in this exercise.

Expect to see changes which will include:

Better Uniforms tailored to the climate and increased functions; GPS Tracking and

electronic IDs for officers; and, the greatest of all changes – a greater patrol presence

within communities.

It is important to know that the changes are not merely external.

21ST CeNTury TrAiNiNg

Officers will soon become masters of their craft. Already, recruits have access to

improved training facilities and procedures. Upon leaving the academy, new officers

will be engaged in field training exercises, because it is a fact that life often happens

away from the classroom. Older, more experienced officers will also be retrained,

with a focus on the psychology of the job and the individual.

21ST CeNTury ProTeCTorS

Training initiatives are always of importance. The Perpetrators must not be made to

think they are more informed than the Protectors. The officer is not just the first line

of defense against the dark elements but must recognize their role as friend and

champion of the community.

Expect to see a greater presence within communities. Expect more patrols. Know

that your protectors at the TTPS are equipped with modern tracking systems and a

centralized dispatch to allow for a truly rapid response.

This presence will place officers in a more proactive role… an in-depth knowledge of

the neighbourhood, a true partnership with the residents, resulting in the eradication

of rogue elements and the return to community as we once knew it.

21ST CeNTury ProCeSSeS

This initiative will see a centralized hub of intelligence where the dispatch, detectives,

inspectors and CSI teams will work in unison to solve crimes. New twelve hour shifts

will give officers a more concentrated approach to policing while affording them

quality down time for rest and recuperation.

We asked ourselves, ‘what can we do better in terms of being the

Police Service you can believe in?’ We expect that the answer

will come from new initiatives that are being implemented as

we strive to elevate the standard of the Trinidad & Tobago

Police Service.

Training, Retraining, Outfitting, Promoting, Protecting… Policing.

Officers at the new Western Division Headquarters

He’s the face of change for the Trinidad & Tobago

Police Service; a man who wants to do the best job he

possibly can, for the citizenry he serves; an accessible

man, his heart is with families and communities. He

believes in good, honest police work and is committed

to the eradication of crime in all its forms. He is

Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs and, with the help of

his team of committed and competent specialists

and officers, we can expect the transformation we all

need. It’s a new day, a new way forward. Here’s a little

background on the man behind the role.

PoliceCommissionerDwayne Gibbs

AT yOUrSErvICE:

Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs4

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As the Commissioner of Police for the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service,

Dr. Dwayne Gibbs joins the executive team to lead and help advance

the on-going policing strategies designed to reduce disorder, crime,

violence and the fear of crime for the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Commissioner Gibbs was

previously employed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mustard

Seed Society of Alberta – a non-profit organization that assists homeless

individuals with shelter, employment and community integration. He

attended the University of Alberta where he acquired a Bachelor of

Education Degree in Biological Sciences before he set a career path by

joining the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) in 1978.

His policing career furnished the opportunity to work in a variety of

units dedicated to harm reduction, quality-of-life issues and crime

suppression. Much of his career was performed as part of the ESP’s

Executive Team. As Superintendent, he headed various departments

including Human Resources and Training Division; Field Support

Services; Family Protection Executive Services Division; North Division

and was appointed the first Alberta Director for the province’s Criminal

Intelligence Service Alberta (CISA).

He supplemented his administrative and leadership experience through

further education and employment. He achieved a Master of Arts

Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Alberta,

and a joint Master of Business Administration and Doctorate Degree

in the Philosophy of Management from California Coast University.

Immediately following his retirement from the Edmonton Police Service,

he worked for Alberta Transportation where, as Executive Director, he

headed-up the Driver Programs Branch for Alberta’s Transportation

Safety Service.

he’s the face of change for the Trinidad & Tobago Police Service, a man who wants to do the best job he possibly can for the citizenry he serves…

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Deputy Police Commissioner - Operations, Jack Ewatski

AT yOUr SErvICE

The newly appointed Deputy Commissioner responsible

for operations is taking the next step in the transformation

process within the TTPS. The Model Station initiative

utilizes intelligence led, problem oriented policing tactics

to respond to crime in the community it serves. The

Deputy Commissioner emphasized the need for continued

community policing. This is a bold step and a large step

in the transformation process and it is going to really

develop the TTPS into a Modern Contemporary Policing

Service Unit. This change in the service delivery model will

consist of active patrol units being dispatched from the

field, creating a higher level of visibility of the TTPS. “We

want people to see police officers out on patrol whether it

be in vehicles or on foot. We want them to know that they

are there to serve as a deterrent to crime.”

The Western Division is the model station that will

spearhead the new 21st century policing initiative and will

serve as the prototype station for the other eight divisions.

This area is highly diverse and represents a good snapshot

of the entire country. Driven heavily by technology, testing

within this pilot project will run for approximately three

months.

The “look” of the officers will also reflect transformation

with the redesigning of new uniforms, provision of

proper equipment and psychological training. The Deputy

Commissioner reemphasized the Policing for People and

Community Policing philosophies for dealing with people

and the community. He says, “Customer service is very

important. Whatever title you give, it’s about providing a

type of service that the public expects and deserves.”

“The new 21st Century Policing Initiative

will show a more confident, committed

and caring Police Service.”

Deputy Police Commissioner - Operations, Jack Ewatski

Assistant Superintendent (Ag.) Gordon Walcott remembers when

gang violence and the murder rate were at a record high in Laventille.

Today, because of the TTPS’s Policing for the People initiative, he is

able to speak proudly of the drastic reduction of the crime rate in

the area, and the 5th Annual Christmas Treat held for the children

and the elderly.

Walcott is the acting Assistant Superintendent in charge of the Inter

Agency Task Force which was established in 2004 as an Intervention

Strategy for crime in certain areas. “In 2004 it was terrible,” he

describes. “None of us were prepared to deal with the situation

we met.” He recalls the fear of talking to the police that residents

experienced and the feelings of resentment towards the force. “There

wasn’t any relationship between the people and the police, as a

matter of fact, even the smallest child was anti-police.” Consequently,

he says that the mindset of the officers prompted them to treat every

resident as a criminal.

In 2004, Mr. Walcott and his unit decided to host a Christmas treat

for the children of the area. Catering for 80 children, the response

was overwhelming as 180 people turned out for the event. “It was so

delightful to see the number of children.” The following year a Family

Day was held on the basketball courts at St. Barbs and most of the

community was in attendance. A local talent show featured children

from the area and Mr. Walcott was moved to continue the Community

Policing efforts of the TTPS.

According to Mr. Walcott, Community Policing is nothing new to the

Police Service. He recalls a time when, “Every police officer was a

community police officer because you had to know your community.”

To him, it was considered a form of on-the-job training with every

officer being familiar with the community they were patrolling. He

believes when Community Policing is referred to as the ‘softer side’

of policing today, it is because of a lack of information. “If you have

a community and you have relationships with the people, that is the

only way you will know how to react, how to implement and deal

with any issue,” he explains.

Opening the lines of communication between the Police Service and

the community is the essence of the Policing for the People initiative

of the TTPS. Supt. Walcott continues to be a pioneer of this effort,

which he calls, “The way forward.”

POlICING A Passion forthe People

7Gordon Walcott, Assistant Superintendent (Ag.)

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Transformation

We realize that we need to reignite the passion that was inside every single officer. When it becomes a passion - it’s not a job anymore, it’s part of your lifestyle.”

Change is in the air within the Trinidad & Tobago Police Service

but are these merely aesthetics? Is it just a cosmetic solution

for real world situations? To create the thriving Police Service of

tomorrow, one must first create a culture whereby new initiatives

are not just embraced… but believed. We need to create not just

a police officer who commands the law but one who commands

respect, even from those relatively unsavoury elements in our

society. It has to start from Day One. It has to start with the

recruits.

“Every time you get an opportunity to reach out and touch the

public in whatever realm, it’s an opportunity to touch someone

in a positive way, even the bad guys. If you are affecting an

arrest or executing a warrant – do it with respect… and I use that

single word as a foundation and a basis for everything [officers]

do – they need to respect themselves, each other and the public,

everyone they come in contact with whether good or bad. You

deal with people in that way and 99% of those people will give

you the respect back.”

Gone are the days when a strong hand served as a reminder and a

deterrent to errant behaviour. Trainees must now fully understand

the psychology of the what’s-going-ons-out-there before they can

take their place within the pride that is the Police Officer. Speaking

to us from the TTPS Training Academy in St. James recently,

Provost, Watt explained that from the training perspective, one of

the key factors is to get the trainees to understand how important

it is to engage the public in a positive way.

– Provost, Watt, TTPS Training Academy, St James

TOTAl

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Training simulations being

conducted at the TTPS Training

Academy in St. James

“When you are responding to a call for

service, you need to think about the people

who made that call… you need to put yourself

in their shoes. What if it was your mother or

father or sister or brother or child making that

call? How would you want the TTPS to respond

and assist them? In a positive and effective

manner.”

The intense twenty four week training

programme that new recruits face can be best

described as three pillars:

1. Ethics and Integrity – this tackles real world

problems faced by officers (what would you

do if you were faced with X or Y situation).

This is week one of the programme.

2. Policing for the People – as Provost, Watt

pointed out, “On the law enforcement side

of things, you’ll probably enforce the law

about 10/20% of the time… the other 80/90%

you’re helping people solve problems and

they [officers] need to connect with people in

relation to solving those problems.”

3. And of course, Practical Base

Learning – which includes

simulations. There are 28 simulations running

six times a day, four days in a row. On the

final day, four simulations are run. By the end

of it, each recruit would have participated

in all twenty-eight simulations. There are

fifty-six teams of four officers each. Twenty-

eight act as police responders while the

other twenty-eight teams acts as civilian role

players. Everybody gets a chance to provide

feedback and experience.

“One of the things we tell them [civilian role

players], when you give your feed back, don’t

give it as a police officer – grading what that

officer should or shouldn’t have done – but

you need to think about how did that officer

treat me as a citizen of Trinidad of Tobago.”

Being a Police Officer is not an easy job. It is

important to realize that officers often face

the dark side of society in the work that

they do. It is therefore vital that these hard

working public servants (for that is what a

police officer is – someone who works for

the public) be trained, retrained

Tools of the trade - training and tenacity will change the face of the TTPS

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STeVe WATT, has over 30 years of experience in policing, 20 of which have been dedicated to the training, development and education of police officers in Canada and abroad. Since 1999, Steve has been involved in bringing quality police training to officers in Asia, the Middle east and the Caribbean.

he is currently providing contract services to the Ministry of National Security to transform the Police Academy, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), into the leading police training provider in the Caribbean and an equivalent to police training facilities in developed nations (2009 - 2012). With responsibility for all training, education and development of the organization’s 6,000 plus sworn officers, he also sits on the Commissioners executive committee.

Provost, Steve Watt holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser university (1997), British Columbia, Canada.

Provost, Steve WattTrinidad and Tobago Police Service Training Academy, St. James

“really what we’re doing… we’re rebuilding the entire programme

from the ground up”

and taken care of – socially and

psychologically as well. This is

where special training sessions for

all officers come into play.

“We realize that we need to reignite

the passion that was inside every single

officer when they joined this Police Service. When it

becomes a passion – it’s not a job anymore, it’s part of your lifestyle.”

This Leadership Development Programme is meant to touch everyone

from the Corporal/Sergeant to Assistant Commissioners at least twice

a year and is geared to equip them not only with research projects

and good intense learning modules, but also work place applications

that they can take back to their respective jobs. Additionally, these

programmes are meant to generate more direct communication

between officers of all ranks. This will allow for a more open and safe

environment whereby officers discuss what’s important to them. It is

meant to create a Police Culture that is more proactive than reactive;

because an officer’s job is not just about responding it is about

understanding. This time around, the real change begins from within…

(from previous page)

Officer Derrick Sharbodie enters the room. He has a busy day ahead of him, as the following day is

the St. James Police Youth Club’s 18th Anniversary Christmas Treat. Mr. Sharbodie is the manager and

founder of the club established in November 1992.

Starting a youth club is no easy task and Mr. Sharbodie is fully aware of this. Working at the Western

Police Station, he observed the growing number of young people brought in for various offences on a

daily basis and approached his inspector on the concept of going into schools and giving lectures. After

touring a few schools, he realized that crime and consequence lectures were not addressing the root

of the issues that young people face, “It was more self esteem, sense of worth and value for oneself.”

Subsequently, his lectures shifted from crime based to more self-motivation and self-value talks with

young people. Almost immediately, he witnessed positive effects, “You get into the lives of the child,

you end up in the home, you end up in the community.” The lectures, though helpful and insightful,

were not sustainable. He felt a police youth club was the best way to build actual relationships with

young people.

In its humble beginnings the club operated in schools on Saturdays only. Now it is open from 10am to

10pm everyday and its location, ironically, is not in St. James but on #5 Sierra Leone Road in Petit Valley.

“We kept the name as St. James Police Youth Club because it speaks to who is the leader, it speaks to

the genesis of the club,” Mr. Sharbodie explains. Children come from all over the island, and the club

does not restrict members based on their geographical location. The centre has evolved into several

activities – including an IT section, drama, African dance, ballroom, drumming, male and female support

groups, a homework club and a sixteen-piece steel orchestra. A Probation Department Programme plays

host to eight boys who needed homes, the ‘Join a Club not a Gang’ initiative seeks to show every sport

as a vehicle for advancement, and a suspension centre was established for students suspended from

school to occupy their time constructively.

IN ThE lINEOf SErvICEMr. Sharbodie believes the centre is a place where young people are treated with respect and can

blossom to find their full potential. He notes, “Working with young people is not a duty, it’s a service.

The club is not just a club, it is also a stepping stone into the world of work in the Police Service, Defence

Force and Coast Guard.” He affirms that the role of the police officer has evolved, “The goal is to see

the police officer as a friend and someone you can trust. The police force being changed to the Police

Service is a result of the people lobbying for a particular type of service.” He maintains that the police

must always have an excellent relationship with members of the public, and the public should be the

main source of criticism of the service delivered.

Officer Sharbodie has received training in some of the

best practices in youth services in the United Kingdom

and the United States. In October 2009, he received the

Runner’s Up Award at the FirstCaribbean International

Bank “Unsung Heroes” celebration, and he has been

shortlisted three times for the Prime Minister’s Award in

Community Service.

“the goal is to see the police officer as a friend and someone you can trust.”

PC Derrick Sharbodie with members of the St. James Police Youth Programme 11

Q&A with InspectorCurtis Paul

WhAT AreA DoeS The NorTh eASTerN DiViSioN

CoMPriSe?

Within the Northern Division among other

things, we have 5 police youth clubs, we have

7 station districts, we stem from Morvant in the

north west to Blanchissuese in the north east.

This comprises the Morvant Police Station, the

Barataria/El Socorro Police Station, San Juan (by

the cemetery), the sub station on the Saddle

Road/Eastern Main Road, and the Santa Cruz

Station.

WhAT iS your PerCePTioN oF The TTPS, AND

WhAT Do you ThiNk iS The orDiNAry CiTizeN’S

PerCePTioN oF The TTPS?

We have moved away from the force to the

Trinidad and Tobago Police Service, and recently

“To Protect and Serve with Pride”, but the total

psyche of this has not really gotten over to the

public yet in that they still see us sometimes as

a force. However, under the surface, there are

a lot of wonderful things happening with the

community and the police. I think if we continue,

sooner than later the entire population is going

to have total confidence in the Trinidad and

Tobago Police Service, and there will be no gap

between the Police Service and the community.

The TerM “SoFT PoliCiNg” hAS BeeN ASSoCiATeD

WiTh The CoMMuNiTy PoliCiNg iNiTiATiVe. WhAT

Are your ThoughTS oN ThiS?

I used to call Community Policing “soft policing”

and I think it was arrogance, but now that I’m in it

I have never worked so hard in my life.

Why DiD you geT iNVolVeD iN youTh

DeVeloPMeNT AND CoMMuNiTy PoliCiNg?

To totally eradicate crime and the fear of

crime, you have to deal with young minds.

The world has also gone with community

policing because it’s the most direct interaction

between the police and the community.

WhAT SerViCeS Do you ProViDe iN TheSe

youTh CluBS?

We do counselling and we have areas like

juvenile delinquency, domestic violence, family

disputes and child abuse. We do lectures

and visit schools, hold town and community

meetings, and parent education sessions. We

also have a lot of field trips, a soccer clinic and

a summer camp.

Do you hAVe ANy reCeNT eVeNTS you WoulD

like To highlighT?

We recently had a gospel competition in the

Himalaya Club and the finals were held on the

fourth of December. Also, the Laventille Road

Police Youth Club Steel Orchestra held its first

concert together with the Trinidad and Tobago

Police band. Last year, we also had the Annual

Crime Calypso Competition that started in the

North Eastern Division with the El Socorro/

Aranguez Police Youth Club and is island-wide

now, and we want to take it to Tobago and

bring some participants from Tobago.

CAN you Tell uS Who you Are AND

WhAT you Do iN The SerViCe?

I am the head or the Inspector in

charge of the North Eastern Division

Community Policing, or as they say

now, Community Relations.

We in the service say Community

Relations, for want of a modern day

word, but the nation at large they

know it or they associate more with

Community Policing.

Inspector Curtis Paul and members of the Laventille Youth Club Steel Orchestra at a recent event.

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