TRINIDAD-Police Commissioner said, “Cease to report for duty.”

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – The Police Service Commission (PSC) has told embattled Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher to “cease to report for duty and cease to discharge the duties of Commissioner of Police”.

In a January 31 letter sent to President Christine Kangaloo, the PSC said that the action against Harewood-Christopher is being taken “due to an ongoing investigation into misbehavior in public office.”

Over the last weekend, Harewood-Christopher was released from police custody after being questioned in connection with the illegal procurement of high-powered rifles.

“What happened here is an outrage. It is outrageous because the Commissioner of Police was questioned, not as a person from whom the officers wanted information. Still, she was cautioned, and we all know, or we should know, that a caution is administered to a person against whom the officer has reasonable grounds to suspect the person has committed an offense,” said her attorney, Pamela Elder SC.

She told reporters, “My client has endured two days of unrelenting questioning and interrogation. She has endured this interrogation as a suspect who has been cautioned, and in light of that ordeal she has endured, I have advised her that though she wishes to speak, this is not the time”.

Elder said Harewood-Christopher had been released without any charges being laid and told reporters when asked if Harewood-Christopher would resume office on Monday, “That will have to be discussed. We have to put pen to paper”.

In May last year, Harewood-Christopher was given a one-year extension as police commissioner after the Cabinet had earlier indicated that on May 13, it advised President Kangaloo under the Police Service Act (section 75(a)) to extend her service for a year starting May 15.

Harewood-Christopher reached the retirement age of 60 on May 15, 2023, and Cabinet gave her a one-year extension until May 24, 2024.

The PSC said it has since asked President Christine Kangaroo to appoint Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Junior Benjamin as Harewood-Christopher’s replacement.

In the letter, the PSC, chaired by criminologist Dr Wendell Wallace, recommended that Benjamin be appointed acting Commissioner of Police and Curt Simon be appointed acting Deputy Commissioner of Police.

The Parliament will meet on Wednesday to debate the new appointments.

Meanwhile, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) is urging the public, the media, and other stakeholders “to refrain from engaging in speculation or making misleading comments that could undermine the ongoing investigation” into Harewood-Christopher and Roger Best, the retired Major and former Strategic Services Agency (SSA) director.

The TTPS issued a statement after a media report suggested that Deputy Commissioner of Police Suzette Martin had claimed that Harewood-Christopher would not stay on as CoP while still under investigation.

“The TTPS wishes to state that DCP Martin made no such statements and would not be in a position to make any comments on the tenure of the CoP. As such, that report is erroneous. “

The statement quoted Martin as saying, “The investigations are being handled with the utmost professionalism, transparency, and impartiality. Justice must be based on facts and due process rather than assumptions or biased narratives. Premature conclusions and false information can create unnecessary tension and hinder the work of investigators.”

“I assure you that the investigation, which the Director of Public Prosecutions has guided, is being treated with the utmost seriousness, and all findings will be based on credible evidence. Let us all exercise responsibility by allowing the investigation to unfold without interference. I call on everyone to uphold fairness, trust the legal system, and avoid sensationalizing the case. Let us await the facts before forming opinions<’ she added.

The TTPS said it would continue to provide updates as circumstances allow, “and we remain focused on maintaining public trust.”