Trinidad And Tobago To Implement Drug Testing For Police Officers

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, March 12, 2019 (CMC) – The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) said, yesterday, it will begin conducting random drug testing on police officers, and that Police Commissioner, Gary Griffith, will be the first to be tested.

In a statement, the TTPS said that the drug testing, which will begin in two months’ time and continue “indefinitely”, is a “proactive approach, aimed at minimizing the possibility of police officers being addicted to illegal drugs”.

It explained, it is also aimed at ensuring that “officers do not commit actions, which will cause them to be involved in any type of criminal activity”.

“In a similar manner to the polygraph test…the COP (Commissioner of Police) has requested that he be the first person to be polygraphed and drug-tested,” the statement said.

It warned that police officers, found to be under the influence of any dangerous drugs whilst on duty, “will be disciplined”.

The statement said that the drug testing will be conducted on both regular and Special Reserve Police (SRP) officers.