Pubdate: Sat, 19 May 2007 Source: Trinidad Express (Trinidad) Copyright: 2007 Trinidad Express Contact: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1093 Author: Darren Bahaw ATTORNEY WANTS RANDOM DRUG TESTS FOR ALL COPS A SENIOR attorney yesterday called for the introduction of random drug testing for all police officers to be included as part of the new regulations governing the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. Israel Khan said members from the Police Commissioner to any constable should subject themselves to periodical tests, as he welcomed the new measures aimed at weeding out unsuitable people from joining the service. People with chronic gambling problems should also be debarred from joining the Police Service, he said. National Security Minister Martin Joseph, on Wednesday, announced that candidates aspiring to join the Police Service will have to undergo polygraph and psychological tests, as well as provide a DNA sample, in keeping with the new regulations. He made the announcement during his contribution to the debate on the Police Service (Amendment) Bill during a special sitting of the House of Representatives at the Red House in Port of Spain. The bill required a simple majority, but there were certain clauses in the bill that dealt with fingerprinting and the creation of a national database of fingerprints that required a special majority in order to be passed. It was eventually passed with 26 votes for the legislation and none against it. Khan, a member of the Law Reform Commission, also welcomed the increase in academic qualification for recruits, and the introduction of civilians with university degrees to join the senior ranks of the Police Service. He said police officers in the Second Division who already had law degrees should also be promoted to the First Division. The new regulations, he said, will encourage constables and corporals to take up part-time courses in order to gain rapid promotion. "There are hundreds of police officers who are diligent and capable of efficiently performing their duties, who do not possess five O-Level passes; but at the same time there are a few officers who cannot spell or read properly and thus muck up investigations and evidence at trials," he said. Khan also made a call for proper death and injury benefits to be regulated for the men and women who are sworn to protect and serve. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath