THE Scarborough Criminal Investigative Department (CID) is threatening to shut down its operations.

The unit is supposed to be operating in full capacity with over 26 officers since there has been an increase in crime including a high firearm presence on the island of Tobago.

But according to one source there are hardly any officers working at all in the department.

And other police officers are getting increasingly frustrated, as they have to work double shifts and step into positions, which they cannot handle as they are already overworked.

“Recently, there were only two persons working on a shift.

“Men are stressed out and soon the officers will be planning to shut down the section,” said the source who requested anonymity.

It is said that authority personnel have not been dealing with the problem since no extra help in form of manpower have been forthcoming.

The source said it is suspected that officers are not being put in the Scarborough CID because of blatant favouritism and possible biasness.

Calling it a “volatile situation” another person said that the officers are disgruntled and called for Senior Superintendent Benjamin Watson to ease some of the frustration by getting more officers to work in the CID before all hell breaks loose.

The source also complained of the lack of protective equipment including bulletproof vests.

At present at the station there is an Acting Inspector since there is no appointed inspector, seven sergeants (one attached to the Criminal Record Office), one corporal (who has gone on leave) and 8 constables from whom four are attached to the Criminal Record Office.

In a CID unit, however, there is supposed to be one inspector, four sergeants, six corporals and 26 constables.

Senior Superintendent Watson could not be reached for comment. However, President of Second Division Welfare Association, Noel Chase, said he was not aware of the understaffed and overworked Tobago department.

“This might not be totally accurate but there is a shortage of manpower throughout the Police Service both in Trinidad and Tobago.

“We are an essential service, so I am not sure if it is accurate to say that the department will be shut down.

“As for the issue of the bulletproof vests, a decision was taken to equip officers with their own vests that will now be part of their kit.

“The government has bought 2,000 to 3,000 vests and some officers have received theirs. It is given out on an individual basis.”

He said that all an officer has to do to receive their bulletproof vest is visit the Stores Department located on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain. As for the Tobago officers, Chase did not elaborate on who would be responsible for their travelling expenses to reach to Port of Spain.

Of course, time off for Tobago officers, who already work a depleted shift, to travel to Trinidad to collect their vests is another issue which might have been given little or no consideration.