Senior Reporter
jensen.lavende@guardian.co.tt
Police officers lined up outside the Police Stores Department along Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain yesterday to return their tactical uniforms in exchange for the grey shirt and blue pants.
Officers were seen with their tactical wear packed in garbage bags, grocery bags and duffel bags as they stood in the sun from as early as 8 am to return their kits in keeping with the order from Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher. The mandate, which was announced last Thursday, took effect last Friday.
According to DCP Junior Benjamin, the mandate was in response to a rise in criminals posing as police officers in tactical wear, which is easily accessible.
All police officers except for those assigned to the Guard and Emergency Branch, Inter-Agency Task Force, National Operating Task Force and the Multi-Operational Police Section have until tomorrow, Wednesday to return their operational wear.
Guardian Media attempted to get a better understanding of the process by visiting the Stores Department and hoped to speak with the senior officer in charge Cpl Thomas. However, he said he was not authorised to speak and advised that the TTPS corporate communications department be contacted.
But the communications unit said information regarding the number of uniforms returned and the number still outstanding was not prudent to divulge.
Inside the department, officers in groups of five were seen with their old uniforms in hand, signing a yellow book and receiving their new uniforms.
Outside, as police officers complied with the order and waited their turn in line to return the tactical wear, some complained bitterly that the idea was not well thought out.
Officers, who said they were assigned to divisional task forces, said they must now go on mountainous terrain in shoes rather than boots. They said returning to the grey and blue was not user-friendly as there was no way to store the extra magazines they usually carry along with other items.
Other officers said the issue should have been corrected using technology with tactical uniforms being outfitted with radio frequency identification (RFID).
During the media briefing last Thursday, DCP Benjamin said officers in tactical wear will be accompanied by officers in digital camouflage or the regular grey shirt and blue pants, as a measure to assure the public of their legitimacy. The officers will also be displaying their badges and Benjamin advised that if citizens were uneasy, they should call the nearest police station.
The day after the order was made the TTPS’ Social and Welfare Association said the development was an opportunity for the introduction of an ergonomic and contemporary uniform that is climate-friendly.
In a media release, the association said while it acknowledges the concern of fake police and the methods to address it, it was advocating for all divisional task forces to be allowed to wear digital camouflage uniforms.