POLICE Commissioner Trevor Paul is getting a break from the “hot seat” and will be going off on a well-deserved vacation from next month.

Paul, dubbed “The Frequent Flyer” (because of his regular trips abroad), is taking five months leave, sources say.

There is speculation that the CoP may be performing his last official duty at the upcoming Independence Day Parade at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain on August 31, since he is due to go on pre-retirement leave next year.

During his absence, Deputy Commissioner of Police Glen Roach, who came out of a short vacation earlier this week, will act as commissioner.

Well-placed sources told TnT Mirror there would be a vacancy for an acting Assistant Commissioner of Police in the executive, which is expected to be filled by Senior Superintendent Raymond Craig, head of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCNU).

National Security
Minister
MARTIN JOSEPH

Deputy CoP
GLEN ROACH

The sources said since Paul took over as commissioner about two years ago, he has been under pressure over escalating murders and rogue cops who are giving the Police Service a bad image.

“Paul has been turning grey every day, having to also deal with Martin Joseph, National Security Minister,” one officer said.

Under Paul’s tenure as commissioner, this country has recorded its highest-ever murder rate.

Only 21 per cent of the 360 murders in Trinidad and Tobago were solved last year.