(Trinidad Guardian) Disturbing and confusing.
This was how the Police Service Social and Welfare Association president Insp Michael Seales described the incident in which a police officer reportedly abandoned duty, went to a club where he met a woman and subsequently sexually assaulted her before confessing to the crime.
The Special Reserve Policeman (SRP), who is attached to the Guard Unit at Riverside, Port-of-Spain, is expected to appear in court today to face charges of rape and serious indecency.
According to reports, around 2.35 am on Saturday the officer went into the Couva Police Station and surrendered. The officer allegedly told officers on duty that he was supposed to be on duty at the time but went to a club in the area where he met the 20-year-old woman.
The officer allegedly subsequently took the woman to an unknown location in Couva where the incident occurred. The woman also later showed up at the Couva Police Station and made a report, following which she was taken to the Couva Health Facility where she was medically examined.
Contacted on Saturday, Seales, who admitted he was shocked by the report, said, “When you look at what is in the public domain and what has been reported thus far, the interesting part is that the officer had to work but he apparently abandoned work and more importantly, he abandoned work to go on his own folly and to have fun.
“The result of the fun is that now an accusation has been made and it is a very serious accusation. But the heart of the matter that really strikes at me is when you said you abandoned your duty….when he abandoned his duty he actually abandoned the services to the country…that’s how serious the association views his actions,” Seales said.
He added this was only one part of matter as it seemed “kind of peculiar” that the officer would readily walk into the station and give a confession.
“It is something strange,” Seales added.
He said such acts only serve to further tarnish the image of the T&T Police Service.
“At the end of the day, it will require the commissioner to make a comment. But I am giving the assurance that not all officers will behave like that. This is a person who made a decision to do something wrong. The association frowns on those matters,” Seales added.
