A Special Reserve Police officer has been granted bail after being charged with forgery and misbehaviour in public office.
WPC Lauren Thomas, who was last attached to the Northern Division-North, was taken before a Justice of the Peace on allegations that she submitted forged academic certificates in an attempt to join the ranks of the regular T&T Police Service.
She was granted bail in the sum of $200,000 with surety and is scheduled to appear before the Port-of-Spain North Criminal Court on Wednesday.
Thomas faces two charges: uttering a forged document contrary to Section 9 (1) of the Forgery Act Chapter 11:13, and misbehaviour in public office contrary to common law.
The charges stem from a report received by the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) on March 15, 2026. According to investigators, Thomas allegedly submitted a document bundle to the Police Academy in St James as part of the absorption process to become a regular police officer.
Checks revealed that the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) certificates included in the submission were invalid. This discovery prompted a full investigation coordinated by Deputy Commissioner of Police Natasha George, Assistant Commissioner Richard Smith and Senior Supt Lindon Douglas. The inquiry was supervised by Acting Woman Supt Bacchus, Corporal Jones and other PSB officers.
On June 1, Thomas was arrested in connection with the matter. Following advice from Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, Corporal Jones formally laid the charges.
A TTPS release said the case highlights the vigilance of the PSB in safeguarding the integrity of the police service. Investigators emphasised that the submission of fraudulent documents undermines public trust and compromises the standards expected of law enforcement officers.
