Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith says if people were impressed by the performance of his police officers last year, they will be amazed by what they can do with the high-tech equipment he had requisitioned for the Police Budget.
Sans umbrella, he was answering reporters' questions in the rain during a break of him touring the 12 various police units of the TTPS (T&T Police Service) and three external teams participating in the Police Can Cook event, at the Prison Sports Grounds, Piarco, on Saturday.
When asked if the Police Service was closer to getting a feasible ballistic testing facility, Griffith said "Most definitely. I've spoken to the relevant personnel in the National Security Council. This is my first fiscal year where I will actually have a budget that I made a request for.
"By doing that you will be seeing a number of different things, from the use of technology, the Coastal Patrol Unit, the use of drones, and also the implementation of a forensics department to assist the TTPS in the performance of our duties."
He said with the use of technology and better management structure, "you will be seeing a massive turnaround in the TTPS. If people were impressed by what the TTPS did last year; they ain't seen nothing yet this year."
He said the TTPS needed the relevant resources, logistics and financial support.
Griffith said he was very confident that the Ministry of Finance would do what was required, he was not in any way incorrect in the comments that he made that there was a $112 million deficit and it was affecting the Police Service.
He said thankfully Finance Minister Colm Imbert had assisted the TTPS providing it with about half of what was required a few days ago and the remaining $56 million will be provided in the next few days.
Griffith earlier confirmed the Police Service was owing their suppliers over $100 million, and the Ministry of Finance disbursed $56 million to clear the debt on Friday.
Commissioner of Prisons Gerard Wilson was also present at the event.
