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Police chief defends officers after record fatal shootings
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago /Crime & Justice

Police chief defends officers after record fatal shootings

From Trinidad Express · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro defended officers' use of force following a report of 60 fatal police shootings in one year, the highest in over a decade.
  • The Police Complaints Authority's annual report detailed investigations into these shootings, with many cases closed due to insufficient evidence or no further action.
  • Guevarro cited suspect confrontations with firearms as a reason for fatal encounters, urging the public to surrender weapons instead of engaging police.

Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro has defended his officers' actions after a report revealed 60 fatal police shootings in the past year, a figure not seen in over a decade. The Police Complaints Authority's (PCA) annual report, covering October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, detailed these incidents. Of the investigations initiated into the 60 fatal shootings, 16 reports went to the Commissioner of Police, eight to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and five to both offices. Investigators found insufficient evidence for further action in 31 cases.

I have constantly come to the public and begged them and asked them, put down your firearms, call the police, tell them where it is.

— Allister GuevarroPolice Commissioner Allister Guevarro urging the public to surrender weapons instead of confronting officers.

The PCA also closed 44 investigations from previous periods, with 57% of those cases resulting in no further action. Eleven were referred for disciplinary proceedings, three for criminal or coronial proceedings, and five to both offices. The report noted a total of 393 fatal police shootings between October 1, 2014, and September 30, 2025.

It’s better to find the firearm than try to engage my officers with the firearm.

— Allister GuevarroPolice Commissioner Allister Guevarro explaining his preference for suspects surrendering weapons.

Speaking at a media briefing, Guevarro expressed sadness over the loss of life but argued that many suspects confront officers rather than surrender. "I have constantly come to the public and begged them and asked them, put down your firearms, call the police, tell them where it is," he stated. "It’s better to find the firearm than try to engage my officers with the firearm."

I was like... we in the Wild West.

— Allister GuevarroPolice Commissioner Allister Guevarro describing a situation where a suspect openly carried a firearm.

Guevarro highlighted recent incidents, including the police shooting of Demani Lewis in June, where officers apprehended a suspect allegedly firing a weapon in public. He lamented that such encounters often end tragically, stating, "Unfortunately, this situation ended up where the gentleman did not surrender peacefully. Sadly, he went to meet his maker. Condolences to his family." The Commissioner questioned the public's disbelief in officers confronting armed suspects, pointing to visible displays of firearms in public.

Unfortunately, this situation ended up where the gentleman did not surrender peacefully. Sadly, he went to meet his maker. Condolences to his family.

— Allister GuevarroPolice Commissioner Allister Guevarro commenting on a fatal police shooting incident.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Trinidad Express in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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