The Deputy Commissioner of Police made the comment in an interview with the Trinidad Guardian in defence of his own performance and that of Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs, both of whom are Canadians.
Critics have blamed both foreigners for not doing enough to bring down the high levels of crime in the country.
He said no one should blame them. He added that while he is impressed with the performance of the majority of police officers the problem is the lack of what he called efficient tools and proper training, which he said would ultimately create a more effective Service.
“We need to give police officers the policies and the support for them to do their job," he told the paper.
"The way we have been doing policing has not provided the results that are required...And I don’t blame the officers. I think it’s the systems and the processes and I have said it many times that we need to change the way that we do things,” Ewatski emphasised.
He noted that he is seeing some change already through the different transformation projects being implemented.
He said some of the changes include the manner in which police respond to victims of crime and others requiring assistance from the police service. He said people who go to a police station expect to be served in a timely manner.
The top cop said customer service is key to transforming the service and urged his officers to treat the public as valued customers.
“When you speak to police officers and you say ‘customer service’ they say they don’t see the public as being customers when, really, we are here to serve the public," he said.
“Sometimes our officers forget about that and so they don’t treat people in the way they should...I tell my officers think of that person as your mother, or your sister or brother: how would you treat them and that’s how you should treat the public too,” Ewatski said.
“Sometimes our officers forget about that and so they don’t treat people in the way they should...I tell my officers think of that person as your mother, or your sister or brother: how would you treat them and that’s how you should treat the public too,” Ewatski said.
He also commented on the apparent rise in the number of murders since the state of emergency ended, saying that is just a perception. He also stated that there has not been an increase in gang-related activity or homicides.
Ewatski also pointed to carnage on the roads. "When we look at our mortality rate and our rate of injuries as a result of road traffic accidents we need to be just as outraged about those numbers as we are with the homicide numbers,” he told the Guardian.
He said both he and Gibbs have a good track record in Canada.
"I think in the past we, the Commissioner and I have proven ourselves in terms of what our experience brings to the organisation...and I think people do now realise that maybe we do know something about policing and we do have a strong background,” Ewatski said.
The Deupty Commissioner admitted that one of the biggest challenge for the TTPS is regaining the trust of the public.
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