(Trinidad Guardian) After several years of ups and downs with some controversy in attempting to appoint a permanent Police Commissioner, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has selected acting deputy Police Commissioner (Operations), Deodath Dulalchan to be T&T’s new top cop.
Top sources within National Security revealed yesterday that the PSC gave the nod to Dulalchan, who applied for either of two posts—Commissioner or Deputy—a post in which he has been acting for almost two years.
Yesterday, the PSC submitted the commission’s recommendations of two deputy Police Commissioners and the Commissioner to the President.
A source said acting deputy Police Commissioner Harold Phillip has also been selected to fill that vacancy.
Deputy COP Deodath Dulalchan, left, responds to concerns of residents during a Police Town Meeting at the Valencia South Primary School on Wednesday night. At right is deputy COP Operations (Ag), Mc Donald Jacob.
The source said Dulalchan, who has been named Gold Commander for this year’s Carnival, was recommended ahead of several other candidates, among them former national security minister Gary Griffith, acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams and president of the Police Social and Welfare Association Inspector Michael Seales, who is currently reading for his Doctorate.
Top officers in the Police Service described Dulalchan’s selection as a “bombshell” as no one expected him to be selected as Commissioner but rather Deputy Commissioner. They said it was also a big surprise as his name was not in the forefront before.
Other officers who applied for the post of commissioner were secretary of the Police Social and Welfare Association ASP Anand Ramesar, acting ACP commissioner Irwin Hackshaw, retired deputy commissioner Glen Hackett and former police officer Wayne Hayde.
Dulalchan has been a police officer for 37 years and during his career he worked in several divisions. He is known to be a no-nonsense police officer.
