President of the Police Social and Welfare Association, acting ASP Gideon Dickson is calling for a full-scale explanation as to why the Government rejected Assistant Commissioner of Police Wendell Lucas for the position of Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Yesterday, Dickson described Lucas’ rejection as “strange”, as he called on Government to provide answers.
Lucas was nominated number one on the merit list from the Police Service Commission.
But in a stunning move in the House of Representatives last Friday, Lucas was rejected after being praised for his accomplishments, long service and dedication to the police service by National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds.
On the heels of the controversial rejection, an article in this week’s Sunday Guardian reported that allegations of misconduct contained in a confidential document from a former head of the Professional Standard Bureau (PSB) Totaram Dookhie which could have been the reason the Government gave the thumbs down to Lucas to the position of DCP.
The four-page document stated that Dookhie was assigned in 2019 to conduct an investigation made by officers of the Customs and Excise Division into allegations of suspected misbehaviour in public office and branches of discipline against Lucas.
In a correspondence dated June 23, 2023, it showed that Dookhie had raised one instance about the conflict of Lucas’ role as then head of the Financial Investigation Branch and the extent to which the exercise of his legal practice conflicted with it.
In Dookhie’s view, given the seriousness of the allegation, he felt Lucas should not be associated with a white-collar investigation.
Lucas is head of the T&T Police Service White Collar Unit.
When Guardian Media asked Dickson yesterday if the allegations of misconduct levelled against Lucas could have been the reason for his rejection, he said the association would not speculate.
“There is (are) allegations against even Government officials as far as we are aware,” he said.
When allegations are raised, Dickson said, it is important for the accused to get an opportunity to defend themselves which is part of due process.
Pressed if an investigation was undertaken by the PSB on Lucas and what were the findings, Dickson replied, “That is the thing. Nobody knows...nobody knows. We don’t know what became of this substantive matter that is being alluded to. We don’t know whether an investigation occurred and what was the outcome of same...whether a tribunal occurred. Nothing! We are all in the same predicament.”
Dickson said his association is standing shoulder to shoulder with Lucas.
“What occurred with Mr Lucas, as an association, we also would like a level of transparency and accountability on the part of the Government to publicly state why the nomination of Mr Lucas would have been handled in the way it was handled. We see it as putting the officer’s family and his subordinates...his staff... in a somewhat humiliating position,” Dickson said.
Immediately after Lucas’ rejection, Dickson said, the association reached out to him.
“We offered our words of input and we have committed to engage further.”
The rejection, Dickson said, has not been easy for Lucas who has an impressive track record.
“Based on our last communication it is not an easy position or place to be. Mr Lucas is only human. He has demonstrated his level of professionalism in the face of adversity. It is not an easy place to be. He will resurface soon and have his day too,” he added.
Dickson said what happened in Parliament could affect career-minded officers who would like to apply for the post of DCP in the future.
“It could have an impact on officers’ morale, including Lucas. The actions of those who sit in the higher authority is one that shows no consideration to the careers of the officers who put in their work,” the police association president said.
Despite topping the list, Dickson said, the Government has provided “no justification” for Lucas being turned down.
“One would ask the question, which we believe and we are entitled to know, why was the person bypassed?”
As such, he said, the association intends to pen several letters early this week regarding Lucas’ rejection following a face-to-face meeting with the senior officer.
Not wishing to give out too much information, he said, one of the letters will be addressed to the TTPS and the other to Hinds.
“We have to engage Lucas before we do anything. We hope to do that engagement hopefully between tomorrow and Wednesday for the latest,” he explained.
Dickson said the association remains perplexed that Hinds would credit Lucas for his astute service and then the Government would turn him down.
Several calls to Lucas’ cell phone went unanswered yesterday as did calls to Dookhie for further information on the alleged misconduct probe.
Last week Guardian Media published a story about Snr Supt Andre Norton who applied for the post of DCP in 2021, but was never confirmed by the Parliament. Norton had top scored over present Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher but never received an explanation as to why his nomination was overlooked.