New ACP promises crackdown on extortion, rogue cops

Immediately upon assuming his role as Assistant Commissioner of Police for the South/Central Region, Wayne Mystar has delivered a stern warning to extortionists, criminals and rogue officers that once reports are made against them and evidence is found, they will face the full brunt of the law.

Speaking at a media conference at the San Fernando Police Headquarters yesterday, Mystar urged citizens to contact him at 486-9999 if they had intelligence to share anonymously.

Regarding the public’s fear of being extorted by criminals, Mystar urged businesspeople and contractors to lodge reports with the police, saying this is the first step toward stopping the criminals.

“We are going to be dealing with that (extortion) in a really serious manner, but we are asking the public: do not be afraid, give us that information, and we will deal with it, which will include protecting them (public),” Mystar said.

He added, “It is only with your help that we will break the back of this particular crime.”

Asked how prevalent extortion was in the southern region, Mystar said he did not have the data.

However, TTPS legal officer for the Southern Division, Regan Ramnanan, said he was aware of one recent report of extortion.

“Extortion is being engaged head-on. The important thing to note is that in the absence of a report or information, it is not practical for us to say we are dealing with the issue. And while we understand the fear the public may have regarding how long the investigation is taking, I can say there are minimal reports of extortion in the Southern Division that I am aware of,” Ramnanan said.

With home invasions on the rise, Mystar also called on the public to be vigilant and to install immobilisers in their vehicles, as vehicle thefts were also increasing.

On the topic of domestic violence, Mystar said in the southern, southwestern, and central regions, most murders were domestic-related. However, he noted that the police were implementing new strategies based on three criteria: Deter, Detect, and Defend.

He also announced that school liaisons will be placed in all schools, and regular meetings will be held with principals to ensure early intervention in cases of youth delinquency.

Mystar also said police officers are being trained in the latest crime-fighting technologies and will be utilising precision policing strategies based on data-driven analysis.

In a bid to ensure that citizens are treated with respect, Mystar said the TTPS will also soon launch a customer service policy, where customer service representatives will be placed in stations to assist people when they come to make reports. He noted that police town meetings will continue, and officers will continue utilising body cameras to ensure proper documentation of interactions with the public.

Saying he has an open-door policy, Mystar urged the public to contact his office and make an appointment to see him if they were concerned about issues. He called for a collaborative approach to the crime fight, stressing that public assistance was needed now more than ever.