Mandatory Use of P.P.E.s for Police Officers

Chester Williams

Even though several officers are under fire for questionable and deplorable behaviour during the state of emergency and curfew, there are others who are holding their own as frontline persons on the ground. The health and safety of the thousands of police officers is being addressed by top cop Chester Williams. The ComPol say that they have acquired over a hundred and eighty masks and face shields, which have been issued to officers at checkpoints across the country.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“The enormity of this virus is such that it requires that we take extra precautions where protecting our officers is concerned and it is with that spirit that I had solicited contributions from different financial institutions and other individuals to the tune of just over thirty thousand dollars to procure face shields for every officer. We want that you see these face shields that are about; we want that every police officer is equipped with one and beneath the face shield then they will use the mask. And in addition to that, we also ensure that the officers get gloves. We have not been able to get all the shields; the company is still in the process of making them. But we have received so far one hundred and eighty-seven and the ones we have received so far have been issued to the checkpoints because they are the ones that come into contact more with persons, close contact, when the officers have to interview persons who are in vehicles. And as soon as we get the others, which we have been told by the end of this week, then we will be distributing to every police officer. But when we do this, I want to emphasize to the officers the need to wear them because we have seen where officers have been issued the P.P.E.s, but are not using them. So I have said to commanders in a meeting this morning that they need to ensure that they say to the officers that wearing of the P.P.E.s is mandatory and where they fail to wear it, they will be dealt with disciplinarily.”