Cop fires gun over traffic ticket

A traffic stop in Trinidad and Tobago escalated dramatically when a police officer fired her weapon during an altercation with a driver and her husband. The incident, which occurred near the Arima Magistrates’ Court, was captured on the officer's body-worn camera and subsequently went viral on social media, igniting public discussion.

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This is not surprising. These are reports that many people are saying are taking place daily throughout the country.

The footage shows a tense exchange between the officer and the driver, who was issued a fixed penalty ticket for stopping in a no-parking area. The driver contested the instruction, claiming another officer had directed her to stop there. The situation intensified when a man, identified as the driver's husband, exited the van and engaged with the officers.

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The problem is there is very little redress because if any citizen who has a concern about police abuse of authority, they write to the Police Complaints Authority and the PCA do not have powers similar to Internal Affairs in the United States. So all they can do is investigate.

As the driver attempted to drive away while officers were requesting her license, the woman police officer reached for an object, and a gunshot was heard. Both the driver and her husband were arrested following the incident. The event has drawn criticism from former commissioner of police Gary Griffith, who cited it as an example of alleged abuse of authority by officers and questioned the powers and effectiveness of the Police Complaints Authority in addressing such issues.

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This incident is also exactly why certain persons in the TTPS do not want to have body cameras.