Police Commissioner Trevor Botting is lauding the off-duty Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIF) officers who apprehended a gun-toting suspect in the wee hours of Sunday, January 16, on Providenciales.
According to the police, at about 1:03am on Sunday, January 16, 2022, the Police Control Room received reports that shots were fired in the vicinity of a business premises on South Dock Road, Providenciales.
Four off-duty officers who were at the location responded to what they believed to be multiple shots being fired. As a result of their actions, a 17-year-old youth was identified and detained, and a loaded firearm and other ammunition were recovered from the individual.
The circumstances of the discharge of a firearm/firearms and the arrest of the individual, fingered in the incident, according to the police, has been under active investigation.
It is also believed that, possibly as part of the same incident, a person was robbed of a motor vehicle, when two armed masked men accosted the individual and demanded the vehicle, before fleeing the scene. No injuries reported.
Commissioner praised the efforts of the four police officers, who he said displayed a great deal of bravery.
“This incident highlights the broad societal issues for the Turks and Caicos Islands regarding the possession of firearms by young men which leads to violence and serious offending. Everyone should be concerned about our young people and how we can keep them from being involved in such serious criminality.
“The incident also highlights the frankly astonishing commitment, courage and dedication to the protection of the Turks and Caicos Islands by Police Officers from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, whether on or off duty.
“With little regard for their own safety, the four officers responded to a very high threat in protection of their communities. Whilst this matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation, I don’t hesitate in applauding and saluting the courage of our Police Officers. I am proud of them every day for what they do to keep the TCI safe and secure,” Commissioner Botting said.