NTA Release:
*TT Police Service Social and Welfare Association, Gideo Dickson’s clash with the Chief Justice and the judiciary is dangerous and disrespectful*
The recent comments made by the head of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Welfare Association, Gideon Dickson reveal a dangerous level of arrogance and ignorance in the understanding of the law. This individual’s audacity to imply that he possesses greater legal insight than the Chief Justice and the Judiciary exemplifies a concerning attitude that disregards both protocol and respect for our legal system.
The truth is clear: the Judiciary has full control over its premises, including any decision regarding the carrying of firearms within courtrooms (see attached). This authority does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Police Service or the Welfare Association. The attempt by the Welfare Association head to influence junior officers not to perform their duties, as ordered by the Commissioner of Police, shows both indiscipline and a complete lack of respect for the chain of command.
To imply that police officers have an inherent right to carry firearms into courtrooms for personal protection misrepresents the reality of the law. If officers were entitled to this right, we would see them armed 24/7, which is clearly not the case. Furthermore, past incidents globally show that misuse of firearms within court premises, often by officers themselves, has led to unfortunate consequences, with the most recent incident occurring in Kenya, where an officer shot a magistrate who had made a ruling against the officer’s wife. It is clear that the courts are right to enforce their restrictions in the interest of maintaining a safe and controlled environment.
The Chief Justice and I had previously met to address this very issue, when I was Commissioner of Police, with Dickson also being present, and an agreement was reached to respect the Judiciary’s rulings and for dialogue to occur to seek permission for officers to enter courts with their firearms for unique circumstances. If the Welfare Association head disagrees, his only recourse is to lobby for a change in the law—not to mislead or bully his way into undermining established protocols. Because, as I will re-emphasise, there are justifiable grounds and reasons for officers to enter courts with their firearms, which is why, when I sent the request to the Office of the Chief Justice, it would be approved.
It is disturbing that someone with such limited understanding of the law and such inflated confidence in their authority would attempt to instigate this level of disrespect for the Judiciary. Dickson should not be attempting to improperly influence other officers to disrespect not only the Chief Justice and the judiciary, but also to disregard the instructions of the Commissioner of Police. I am certain he will not try to bully his way past security into a courtroom, as he knows he would face the consequences for his actions and is fully aware that what he is saying is incorrect.
There is good reason to believe that this is nothing more than an exercise in ego and arrogance, where one officer has come to the conclusion that “no security guard has the right to tell me what to do.” Unfortunately, this is precisely why public trust and confidence in the TTPS stands at 8%, and why the morale of officers is so low.
Our nation deserves better than this level of misdirection, arrogance, and demonstration of ego. The true welfare of our police officers and the integrity of the Police Service should be upheld through discipline, respect for authority, and an adherence to the law, not by attempting to undermine the legal system.
Gary Griffith, leader of NTA
