New Police Commissioner

Police Commissioner-designate, Canadian Dwayne Douglas Gibbs.


Trinidad and Tobago has a new Police Commissioner-designate. He is Canadian Dwayne Douglas Gibbs, a retired Superintendent of Police of the Edmonton Police Service in Alberta, Canada. Gibbs’ appointment was approved by Parliament last Friday.

Another Canadian, Jack Ewatski will be appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police. Ewatski is a retired Chief of Police at the Winnipeg Police Service.

Could this be the break that airgunners are seeking? Will this new Police Commissioner bring a fresh set of eyes and -- more importantly – ears to the office? Will we be able to shoot larger bore, and rifled airguns before the end of his contract?


Would FULs be renewable every five years, as in Canada, instead of the annual ritual that it is presently? Would the FUL application refusal rate be reduced from the present 95% to the 0.15% as in Canada?

Police officer shot

Special Branch officers provide close protection to local and foreign dignitaries while on T&T soil.

A police officer was shot during an attempted robbery, last night in Trincity.  The young officer, who is attached to the Special Branch, was in the company of a few friends outside a house in Trincity, when a man approached them. The man drew a handgun and demanded the laptop computer of one member of the group.

The officer challenged the bandit, who then fired first, wounding the officer. Displaying excellent marksmanship, the officer fired five times, with all five shots on target. The bandit died on the spot. Surely he must have known that “the wages of sin is death”.

Unfortunately, even after doing his duty, this courageous officer had a long painful delay at the Mt Hope Hospital. Doctors kept him waiting several hours before attending to him. Even after calls from senior law enforcement and national security officials to the hospital.

The highly-trained operator was described by witnesses as “a bodybuilder type”. Muscular mass can often make the difference between life or death. As it is, our friendly, neigbourhood law enforcement hero narrowly escaped with what has been described by witnesses as “a flesh wound”. He is resting comfortably in stable condition.

We thank the young officer for his quick thinking, decision-making and courageous action, and wish him a speedy recovery. We hope the service provides him, and his family with the necessary support at this challenging period in his life.

The residents of Trincity should visit (taking tokens of appreciation) this  model officer, who displayed such heroic behaviour. He is truly an example of Trinidad and Tobago’s finest.

Water rationing; thieves; school pigeons; police ambushed

Photo: Newsday

WASA begins water rationing throughout the nation from midnight tonight. So stock up, however you can. It may be a good idea to leave the power blasting until normal service has resumed.

MARACAS BAY THIEVES

Thieves stole “more than $8,000, 15 cellular phones, gold jewelry, watches, cameras, clothes and identification cards…” from cars parked at the popular Maracas Beach.

PIGEON DROP-INS

Pigeons have infested Marabella North Secondary School, prompting teachers to leave the premises. Perhaps some South-based airgunners can help reduce the pigeon population there. Good practice and you’d be helping your community.

POLICE AMBUSHED

Stolen Vehicles Squad police officers were ambushed by alleged drug-dealers in Sea Lots. The officers were forced to make a hasty exit from their vehicle while returning fire. 

Seventy police officers raid club; no arrests

It took 70 police officers to produce the above items in a raid on a Couva nightclub. With 150 patrons searched, there were no arrests.

ARIPERO KILLING

Police were more successful in ending the ‘careers’ of two robbers-cum killers in Aripero, after a robbery. Two unarmed men chased after the bandits, resulting in one chaser—unsurprisingly—being shot and killed.

Had the owner of the grill shop been armed, he could have saved his employee’s life.

Two pressing issues for Trini airgunners

The 10-shot Marauder. Not for local airgunners.

We have countless airgunners In Trinidad and Tobago. Countless, because those charged with the duty of compiling relevant data do not release those figures. It’s a big national security secret.

Airgunners (and firearms owners) tend to be secretive, regarding their airgunning activities. Except with other airgunners. And for good reason. The average bandit doesn’t know much about rifles. So when he sees a long gun, more than likely he’ll start planning how to get it from the owner.

Most airgunners would not admit it, but they also want to own firearms. The TT Police Service operates as though their mandate is to remove legal guns from homes. Some individual members go further and rent their service-issued firearms, or illegal guns to violent criminals. Since the average non-shooting civilian tends to associate guns with violence, when they see a gun in another civilian’s hands, the immediately get nervous. Ask any shooter. That’s one reason why we usually keep our guns a secret. Never mind the fact that those same air rifles may have to protect the community, in an emergency.

So a neighbour sees your air rifle and calls 555 or 999 or the local police station. Despite knowing the airgunner  and her/his family for years as upstanding, law-abiding citizens. The police hear “man with a gun” and spring into action. When they arrive at your home, they’re sure you’re guilty of something. Maybe they can clear some of the backlog of unsolved robberies, rapes and murders with this one arrest (multiple arrests should your family be home, and friends visiting).

After the jack-booted ninjas (IATF) shoot your dogs, kick down your door, and terrorise, traumatize and threaten your wife and children, you are then allowed to produce your single shot, breakbarrel, .177, smoothbore air rifle. By this time, everyone at home is in handcuffs, with neighbours muttering, “they probably dealing drugs all these years and we didn’t know”. After all, if the ninjas kick down your door, then you MUST be guilty of something.

Depending on the mood of the on-scene corporal or serjeant, you may be allowed the privilege of producing your paperwork for the air rifle. Not satisfied, the police continue to search your entire home, including rifling through your wife’s underwear (a thing even you wouldn’t do), your children’s rooms and prized science project.

After turning your home upside down, and finding no evidence of criminal activity, they depart with a warning, and no apology. A version of the event is then documented in the station diary and other places.

A few months or years later, you apply for a FUL, and denied without explanation. You seek legal advice, and told to take your complaint to the Firearms Appeal Board. But wait, even though there is provision in law for this board, non has ever been constituted since Russell Huggins was Minister of National Security!

One citizen has taken the government to court of this matter.

CALIBRE AND RIFLED BARRELS

Our laws permit citizens only .177 caliber airguns, with smoothbore barrels. Almost no manufacturer produces smoothbore barreled air rifles anymore. Some are produced on special order of 100 rifles or more. So only dealers are allowed. A few dealers make enormous profits because of these old irrelevant laws.

There are a number of really good multi-shot air rifles on the international market today. The latest being the 10-shot Benjamin Marauder. It’s a duel-fuel (pump or CO2) beauty that retails in the US for US$500. Of course it doesn’t come in smoothbore. If a local dealer gets a special order through, then it will most likely retail here for four times the price, or more. The six-shot Evanix retails here for US$3,000, and sold in the US for US$600. The 12-shot FX Revolution is sold here for US$4,200. Both PCP, smoothbore, .177 calibre.

Only the rich can afford these prices.

In contrast, a .22 firearm (rifle) can be picked up off the shelf at Walmart for US$200-300.

The time has come for Trinidad & Tobago airgunners to be able to buy rifled bore airguns. We should also have the choice of .177, .20, .22, .25 or larger if we so desire. The present .177 severely restricts us as to what game we can take down. This also leaves us at a disadvantage to the hunters who use shotguns. An unintended consequence is, we have been forced to hone our shooting skills to near-sniper levels: one shot, one kill. This is no solace though, as one shot would almost never take down a deer. It would just wound the poor animal. We have been reduced to mere vermin shooters.

Another negligent discharge

Back in July, I observed that members of the protective services routinely muzzle sweep each other, along with civilians. One IATF officer shot himself in the toe while on patrol in a densely populated area of the capital city. I warned that these armed persons were a potential menace. Another member of the public was ‘accidentally’ shot while holding his five-year-old daughter on the roadside, while waiting to cross the street.

From the report, it seems like a police vehicle on patrol was involved. This occurred at a busy intersection, at Charlotte and Duke Streets, in Port of Spain. 

15 guns stolen from security firm

“A MASSIVE search was launched last night to recover 15 loaded guns which were stolen from a Woodbrook security company by two men, one pretending to be a police officer.”

“In all, 13 nine millimetre pistols, one .357 handgun and a shotgun were taken. They were all fully loaded, police said.”

One man was reportedly dressed in police uniform. It makes security sense now to never open your door to anyone in police uniform. Better to have them talk to you through a closed door, or have them display their identification first. You can ask them to slide it under your door, while you confirm with the local police station on the phone.

The MI5 security company is at 40 Alfredo Street, Woodbrook.

PLINKING

Spent yesterday evening plinking at some bottles and other assorted objects with one of my sons. Ah, the joys of fatherhood.

Prisoner killed in front court; police flee

A prisoner was shot to death while being escorted by two police officers from court, yesterday. Sounds more like Colombia than Trinidad and Tobago. The two killers were highly motivated and confident, as the heavy police presence at the court didn’t deter them.

“Peter Garcia was in handcuffs, police officers at his side, on the compound of a court, with dozens of officers nearby, when he was shot dead by men mocking the State's ability to protect.

Garcia had no chance to defend himself, and no one to defend him.

The police constables escorting him to the police station next door released their prisoner and ran after the first gunshot.

The policemen who responded to the shooting came long after the suspects were gone.”

“The killers used Uzi submachine guns. They fired on the police station before leaving. And despite a response that involved multiple search teams, tracker dogs, road blocks, and a helicopter hunt, the suspects vanished.”

And you thought the police were here “TO PROTECT and serve with pride”. If an accused person, in police custody, is not secure, then what about the rest of the population? It seems everyone’s fair game for the predators.

It would be interesting to see what this event does to public/police mistrust.

Pellet prices up; Police arrested

Three of the arrested police officers. Photo: Newsday.

For months now, I’ve been suggesting that airgunners stockpile airgun pellets. Well, today I went to one of the cheaper suppliers and the one brand that’s stocked has a price increase of 30%! Needless to say I thanked the cashier and left it at the cash register.

Even though I have a few tins stockpiled in that brand, at the old price, I feel as though I should have bought more. Clearly, the prices of airgun supplies are not included in the government’s latest inflation figures.

What’s in your basket?

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BOY ARRESTED WITH AIRGUN

A 16-year-old boy was arrested in Chaguanas on Sunday night with an air-pistol. The minimum age for owning an airgun in Triniad and Tobago is 18. The report shows up the ignorance of the reporter and editor regarding airguns, and our national airgun laws.

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FOUR POLICEMEN ARRESTED

The four police officers who were caught on camera stuffing $96,000 in cash into their pockets were arrested and released on bail of $150,000 each. They are due back in court on Sept 8.

If police officers are unsure of the conduct that is expected of them while in the service, then here is the list of policing principles, offered by Sir Robert Peel. They are commonly called the Peelian Principles or The Peelian Police Principles.


Principles of Policing

1. The basic mission for which the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder.

2. The ability of the police to perform their duties is dependent upon the public approval of police actions.

3. Police must secure the willing co-operation of the public in voluntary observation of the law to be able to secure and maintain the respect of the public.

4. The degree of co-operation of the public that can be secured diminishes proportionately to the necessity of the use of physical force.

5. Police seek and preserve public favour not by catering to public opinion, but by constantly demonstrating absolute impartial service to the law.

6. Police use physical force to the extent necessary to secure observance of the law or to restore order only when the exercise of persuasion, advice, and warning is found to be insufficient.

7. Police, at all times, should maintain a relationship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full-time attention to duties which are incumbent upon every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence.

8. Police should always direct their action strictly towards their functions, and never appear to usurp the powers of the judiciary.

9. The test of police efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police action in dealing with it.

Source: New Westminster Police Service

New supply of air rifles

A new shipment of air rifles has arrived at Buckshots Ltd., Tunapuna. The Turkish made Hatsan 125, which boasts 1250 fps in .177 is being sold at $3,200 each.



APPLE RELEASES SNOW LEOPARD OS X 10.6

Apple releases Snow Leopard, Mac OS X version 10.6 today. Mac OS X is arguably the best operating system in the world. It’s certainly much more secure than any version of Windows. Just ask Gordon, at Right Enterprises, in Maraval.

Once you go Mac, you never go back.



POLICE STEAL $96,000 CASH

More misbehaviour in public office. This time by an elite police unit called to arrest a man with a gun At a casino in Duncan Village, San Fernando. The four-member team was caught on the casino’s surveillance cameras stuffing their pockets “with wads of cash”.
They four are being questioned by the Anti Corruption Investigation Bureau.

Police officer arrested

Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) officers raided the Arouca home of a police corporal (acting) yesterday. They found a quantity of packaged narcotics used as evidence in recently concluded court cases.

The Express editorial today argues that either all 38 police officers working at the St Joseph police station (who were transferred to other stations) be charged with possession of the 6 guns and 160 packets of illegal drugs or at the very least, the senior officer in charge of the station be charged.

“Section 29 of the Dangerous Drugs Act states that "a person, until the contrary is proven, shall be deemed to be the occupier of premises, if he has, or appears to have, the care, control or management of such premises''. And it is well-known that, when official raids are made on private homes, the police usually arrest everyone living there, including youths and sometimes the aged who are unlikely to be involved in any nefarious activity. So what is the legal difference if the premises is a police station?”

In related news, yet another illegal firearm was found at the controversial St Joseph police station, yesterday. This time by a replacement police officer from the Arima CID, who found the .380 pistol while clearing out a desk drawer.

Should police be trusted with guns?

Asst Supt of Police Junior Copeland charged with murder.

One police officer is caught while renting out his service pistol। Another shoots himself in the toe while on patrol in our busy capital city. The toe-shooter is no ordinary officer, but a jack-booted ninja of the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF). Any member of the public could easily have been a victim of this officer, who either doesn’t know, or ignores the
Four Universal Gun Safety Rules.

Many times I (and other airgunners) have witnessed police officers muzzle-sweeping civilians, while on patrol. This is a dangerous practice, as PC Nathaniel has shown. The consequences can be fatal.

Our legislators and successive Police Commissioners don’t seem to trust us -- the very citizens that put them in office -- with gun ownership. I cannot remember the last time I heard of a legal gun owner shooting him/herself, or shooting another person in a fit of rage. A police sergeant (Warner-Paul) is in custody for the shooting death of Pastor Brian Pierre last year, in what has been reported as a love triangle gone sour. Another officer -– an Assistant Superintendent -- shot a woman in her chest, and then her son, over a land encroachment issue.

Let’s not forget police officers Wendell Constantine and Garvin Peterson, charged (in separate incidents) with stealing guns and ammo from their respective stations.

Should we trust police officers with guns, due to these and other incidents of betraying the public trust? Our police service has about 7,000 police officers and a dozen cases of gun crimes -- and those are just the ones brought before the court. We have a national population of around 1,300,000. One cannot get the figures for legal civilian gun ownership, but based on those figures alone (7,000 vs 1,300,000), it seems we have a disproportionate number of gun crimes committed by those entrusted with protecting and serving our interest.

I wish PC Nathaniel a speedy recovery and hope, on his return from injury leave, that he is sent for retraining then transferred to a desk job, where he won’t need to be armed and therefore is of no further danger to the public.

This event begs a question: How much range time do these elite units get? How many rounds downrange per month? Per annum? How many rounds on target?

Perhaps some of the more experienced shooters among us may care to volunteer to help teach gun safety and shooting drills to our police officers. It couldn’t hurt, and may help engender the trust between the public and police that our Acting Police Commissioner is always asking for. Over to you Commissioner Philbert.

Police officer caught renting gun

Police Constable Curt Teesdale Photo: Newsday

A police officer with 20 years service has been caught in the act of renting out his gun. He is out on $125,000 bail, and is represented by attorney Anuusha Panday.

Constable Curt Teesdale, 43, of St Mary's Village, Moruga, attached to the Mon Repos Police Station. He faced three charges-misbehaviour in public office, the illegal transfer of a firearm and the illegal transfer of ammunition.

This officer’s misbehaviour has already cost tax-payers $28,400, for taunting and illegally arresting a gay man.


IMPENDING PELLET SHORTAGE?

On the issue of ammo, there are rumours circulating about a possible pellet shortage. After a meeting with some airgunners recently, a picture emerged. Some dealers have expressed concern about the difficulties they are experiencing in clearing their pellets from the port. Inordinate delays and increased bureaucratic ‘red tape’ from Customs and Excise officials. When contacted, one dealer said he will no longer import pellets. A couple dealers couldn’t even give a time frame for when they will have new supplies, as they had run out.

Remember, the hunting season begins October 1st. Airgun hunters need specific types of pellets for hunting. This impending shortage, can drive up the price of pellets significantly, making airgunning much more expensive than it already is.

New airgunners can be daunted by this and choose cheaper, less rewarding hobbies. Let’s hope this really doesn’t become a shortage. But it would be prudent to plan for this scenario. Again, I suggest that you stockpile airgun pellets now.

If you wait till the price has doubled, you’d be sorry. Airgunners are in a better position than firearms owners, as there is no legal limit to the number of pellets we possess.

Firearms Users License (FUL) holders have a legal ammo limit of 50 shells (shotgun), with only 200 shells purchased, per year. Pistol owners have a legal possession limit of only 25 cartridges. Sport shooters (rifle, pistol) are not allowed to possess any ammunition; all ammo to be purchased and shot at an approved range.

Stockpile now, avoid the rush.

Seven confirmed swine flu cases in T&T

Seven. Confirmed. Swine flu cases.

The Guardian this morning:

“A female police officer assigned to the Chaguanas Police Station has contracted the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. And another officer, displaying virus symptoms, has been sent on leave, pending results. A news release from the Public Relations Department of the Police Service confirmed that a Chaguanas officer has contracted the virus.”

“…officers at the Couva Police Station said they were still awaiting protective masks and hand sanitisers.”

And the Express reports the County Medical Officer ordered the Chaguanas police station closed.

How much does a couple disposable protective masks and a small bottle of hand sanitizer cost? Less than $20! Maybe even less than $15 if you knew where to shop. Are those police officers seriously willingly putting their health (and the health of their loved ones) at risk simply because ‘the government’ is tardy in supplying supplies? So if The Service is slow in supplying toilet paper…?

At least one officer accepted responsibility for her own welfare and survival:

“A female officer said she had bought her own safety equipment.”

When did we become so dependent on government to do every little thing for us?
Should the gov also come wipe our noses when its running? Where does it end? It seems like every day we are becoming more and more like certain sectors of the US inner city demographics—totally dependent on a ‘nanny state’ for all our needs. Where’s the personal responsibility, the collective responsibility, the initiative, the problem-solving skills? How can a police officer who refuses to protect himself, truthfully act on the police service motto, “to protect and serve with pride”?

Civil unrest, Nursing Shortage, Crime

Shots fired, tear gas canisters thrown as tempers flared in Laventille yesterday. Watching footage on Gayelle TV, the first police unit appeared unprepared to deal with the rowdy youth.

Express story here, and Guardian story here.

Civil unrest is brewing in Trinidad. Time to get your beans, bullets and band-aids stockpiled, if you haven’t already.


1,200 NURSING VACANCIES IN T&T

Speaking of band-aids, Health Minister Jerry Narace said yesterday that there were 1,252 nursing vacancies at the various health institutions in T&T.


COMMUNITY CRIME COMPLAINTS

Yet another community complaining of violent crime. This time it’s the Roystonia Park in Couva. If this is not a reason to be armed, then what is?

Observation on police response to crime

A senior police officer advised members of the public to ‘lock their car doors while driving on the nation’s roads’ yesterday. Commenting to a close friend that is as good as throwing your hands up and admitting defeat to criminals, with the police missing a golden opportunity to finally arm the law-abiding population to level the playing field in the fight against crime, my friend made a poignant observation. She said that many police officers will be shot, and some may even be killed, especially the criminal ones, and those who just act like criminals. But this is exactly why the citizenry should be armed. When police officers are involved in violent crime, they should be treated exactly like criminals. Since we cannot wait for the police to police themselves, as we see when an officer is arrested–even for the most heinous crimes, such as rape, kidnapping, or murder–his colleagues play hide and seek games with media photographers and videographers, allowing the officer to use back doors of courts (usually reserved for judges and magistrates) and other tactics that effectively treats the officer as though he has done no wrong (it is almost always a male officer).

By arming the citizenry, the Police Commissioner achieves three successes almost immediately. First, the armed citizens are now in a more secure position to defend human life and property. Second, the so-called ‘few rotten eggs in the service’ can effectively be dealt with by the very citizens they prey on, which will help the Commissioner in his quest to rid the service of undesirable elements. Third, the relationship between the law-abiding public and the police service will improve dramatically, as both sides redevelop mutual trust and respect. After all, Sir Robert Peel was correct in his observation that “the police are the public and the public are the police”. He was illustrating that members of the police service came out of the community (public).

Commissioner, if you really want our help, don’t ask us to put our lives at risk by being de facto police informants (as the term ‘confidential’ will never apply). Instead, enlist our support by allowing us to arm ourselves legally, thus freeing up your human resources for other proactive duties, as opposed to always being in firefighting mode.

I submit to Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Raymond Craig, that ‘fit and proper’ persons who should qualify for owning firearms should meet only the following critieria:

Must own land (or live in parents self-owned home)
Must not have any convictions for violent crime (someone who passed a bad cheque should still be allowed to defend themselves)
Must undergo a psychiatric evaluation
Must pass a gun competency training course
Must shoot at an approved range at least once per quarter (every three months)
Must be 25 years or older.

Self preservation is the first law of life. If our government through the police service cannot or will not provide security for all its citizens, then we will have to protect ourselves, by any means necessary. Should vigilantism develop organically, then the government and police will have to shoulder the responsibility for allowing the situation to escalate to that level, but we must survive.

Preparedness, Officialdom, Crime, Solutions

Asst Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams

CLUB PROGRESS
Our club now has a logo, rubber stamp, blog and bank account. Now to complete the other tasks, so we can accept new members.

MORE PREPPING
Newsprint reel ends, pencils, canned foods and wines. Wines store for years and are multipurpose. Drink, use in cooking, baking or for barter and trade. Other alcohol can be used to clean wounds, as fuel or to start a quick fire. Its value increases rapidly and significantly during an extended emergency. One may be able to barter or trade for items that previously held dollar values of 20 to 100x the dollar value of the alcohol. This is not wishful thinking, as history has shown us the empirical evidence.



OFFICIALDOM
The Goddess went to a police station regarding her gun documents. If all goes according to plan, she should have her own gun by end of year. Another gun in the family. Yay! More guns, more fun, less crime.

HUNTING
Dave got 11 more iguanas in one hunt, recently.

CRIME
“Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams says the T&T Police Service has failed in some of its crime reduction strategies.
Williams said the TTPS “have had some crime reduction strategies that have failed over time.” The failure was made evident by the growing homicide rate, he said.

• In 1999, Williams said, there were 93 recorded murders
• In 2007, 391 people were killed,
• 2008 recorded the highest in history— 544 killings

Just back from a crime prevention forum in Jamaica, Williams said there was one common challenge that confronted the region—violent crimes. “Violent crimes is sweeping the entire Caribbean and “organisations like ours are almost at a loss on how to take charge of the situation.””

A possible simple solution, Assistant Commissioner: Allow the law-abiding citizens to arm themselves.

Give us a fighting chance to defend against the violent criminals in our midst (that your officers cannot seem to apprehend and therefore violate a number of the Peelian Police Principles). Our ability to defend our lives, loved ones and property, with lethal force, if necessary; and with the confidence that law enforcement officers will not prosecute persons who exercise this universal right, the police can then return to a state when they had the full approval of the public. Of course some laws may have to be changed.
- Trini Funshooter