THE Police Service has been strengthened by an additional 166 officers, who graduated from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Training College, at the El Dorado Youth Camp.

The new cops which included 27 female officers had undergone seven months of training.

They will pass out on August 24. On Thursday night the officers attended their graduation ceremony at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya.

Head of the Police Training College, Snr. Supt. Joseph Nathaniel in his welcome remarks noted that the new officers were pioneers in the new training system introduced by the Stephen Mastrofski Team, which government has appointed for the transformation of the Police Service.

He noted that in addition to the normal subjects of crime, law, policing and traffic, the officers were training in sociology, ethics, emergency care, customer relation and effective communication, which would see better trained police officers.

Senior officers are hoping that this new training will boost the declining image of the Police Service.

The new officers are going to assist in the government’s fight against escalating violent crime.

Sources say that the recruits were the first batch of lawmen to undergo training at the El Dorado Youth Camp, El Dorado and may be the last since there are reports that government is looking for another venue to train recruits.

Previously training for police officers were done at the Police Barracks, St James.

TnT Mirror was told that refurbishment work which was being carried out on the Training College at the Police Barracks has stopped.

The feature address was given by Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson, while the vote of thanks was given by Ag, Supt (Police Training College) Harold Cumberbatch. Also in attendance were Col Dennis Shreve and Dr Craig Uchiva of the Mastrofski Team.

Notably absent was National Security Minister Martin Joseph.

Sources say he was invited.

Deputy Commissioner of Police GLEN ROACH
gets a hug from Cpl. CYNTHIA TINKEW of
the Police Training College.