PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Oct 23, CMC – Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher has condemned the gun attack on a 30-year-old woman police officer, and that the police are determined to ensure that those responsible are swiftly apprehended.
Police said that constable Quianna Mahabir, was shot “multiple times” in the early hours of Tuesday morning while returning home.
They said that the officer, who is a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Band had just returned to the country and as she arrived at her residence in Caroni in Central Trinidad, another vehicle pulled up nearby.
The police said two suspects, one armed with a firearm, exited the vehicle and entered the premises. Despite the doors being locked, the suspects attempted to open the vehicle’s right-side door.
“Several gunshots were heard, and WPC Mahabir sustained injuries about her body and head. The assailants escaped and the officer was rushed to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex for medical treatment,” the police said..
In a statement, Harewood-Christopher she stands together with the entire service in strongly condemning “this heinous attack on a member of the organization.
“I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the tragic attack on one of our off-duty female police officers. Such cruelty is jarring and is a reminder of the dangers our officers face both on and off duty. This comes on the heels of recent separate incidents where two other off-duty officers were fatally shot.
“The availability of firearms in our communities continues to fuel gun violence, murders and other serious crimes. Access to these lethal weapons has regrettably fostered a culture of self-interest, brutality and lack of respect for human life and property.
“We know the task may seem unsurmountable; however, we wholeheartedly accept our role to protect and serve, therefore we will remain unwavering in our resolve to tackle gun violence and remove illegal firearms from our communities.
“Every firearm we remove from the streets keeps citizens out of harm’s way, and I assure you that our officers are dedicated to seizing illegal firearms and apprehending these criminals.”
The Police Commissioner said that the police are “actively investigating all three incidents, and we are determined to ensure that those responsible are swiftly apprehended” appealing to witnesses or those with information to contact the nearest police station.
“As the investigation continues, we remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens, including our brave officers who put their lives on the line every day,” she added.
Trinidad and Tobago has recorded more than 500 murders so far this year.
CMC/af/ir/2024