(Trinidad Guardian) A prison officer was shot and killed in Valencia yesterday afternoon.
He has been identified as Prisons Officer II Trevor Serrette. Police said at about 1:30 pm today, Serrette was conducting business at his fruit stall when a gunman ambushed him and fatally shot him.
Guardian Media was told by a prison source that Serrette was a Prisons Officer II and was assigned to the Wayne Jackson Building.
He was described as a “very straightforward no-nonsense officer”.
Serrette is the fourth officer from the Maximum Security Prisons to be killed within a five year period. The Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service has been plunged into mourning following Serrette’s murder.
Commissioner of Prisons, Dennis Pulchan, in a release issued by the T&T Prisons Service, has condemned the action of the perpetrators, which he has described as “cowardly and heinous”.
Commissioner Pulchan disclosed that an emergency meeting was called with members of the Prison Service Executive, and they are working together with the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service to have the persons responsible arrested and charged, in the shortest time possible. Commissioner Pulchan also is urging officers to continue to be alert and exercise caution both on and off duty.
The release stated that Serrette was a member of the Prison Service for over 26 years.
He is also the 26th officer to be murdered over the past 30 years.
“Our sincerest and heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Trevor Serrette.
May the eternal light shine upon him and grant us all comfort during this trying time,” the release stated.
