CoP Gibbs gets failing grade: Report

Police commissioner Dwayne Gibbs

Media reports in Trinidad & Tobago Saturday said the Police Service Commission (PSC) has given Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs a failing grade and has requested a personal meeting with Gibbs next Thursday before deciding on his fate.

The reports say the PSC plans to meet with deputy Commissioners, Jack Ewatski and Stephen Williams, before completing an appraisal of their performance.

Both Gibbs and Ewatski are Canadians.

The Express newspaper quoted PSC Chairman Prof. Ramesh Deosaran as saying that the meeting "would clarify several aspects of the performance of the Commissioner and his two deputies."

Deosaran told the media the PSC is not only using crime statistics to evaluate the performance of the top officers. The records show a significant decline in serious crimes, including murders, since Gibbs took office.

"The crime statistics themselves are quite problematic because a lot depends on how many people actually report crimes and how efficiently the crime statistics are compiled and submitted to the Commissioner's office," Deosaran stated.

Deosaran said if the PSC would also have to examine the detection and conviction rate, both of which are low.

Deosaran stated that the officers have agreed to three factors that are being taken into consideration for the evaluation:

• public confidence in the Police Service and in the Commissioner of Police
• The extent to which the Police Service is being made into an efficient and effective organisation
• Improvements in road safety

Deosaran said the PSC has given Gibbs a January 30 deadline to submit several outstanding reports, documents and other information that would assist the PSC in completing its evaluation.