00:00Today, we stand on the shoulders of giants.
00:06Seventy years ago, in 1955, 12 courageous women entered the ranks of the Trayvon Tobago Police Service
00:15and were tasked with handling juveniles and female offenders.
00:21But in truth, they were doing something far greater.
00:26They were breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and providing that the call to serve knows no gender.
00:39Guevara said that the determination and professionalism of those female officers set the tone for generations to come
00:46and for other remarkable women to carry the torch forward in the service,
00:51adding that today, some 2,136 female officers, that's about 27%, serve this country in every rank and every division.
01:02Administration, women hold 35% of senior staff position, steering policy and resource management.
01:12Clap for that.
01:13Tactical units, 25% of riot control and special operations teams are women trained and ready for high-risk deployments.
01:27Clap for that.
01:30Operational patrols, women make up 20% of our uniformed front-line officers.
01:36In investigations, 22% of our detectives are women solving complex cases with precision.
01:47Clap for that.
01:49And in technical and forensic services, 18% of our specialists are women advancing scientific-based policing.
01:59Hear me, Trayvon Tobago. Clap for that.
02:01The top cop said that since the state of emergency was declared by the government on July 18th,
02:09women have been the driving force in getting illegal firearms off the nation's roots.
02:14Firearms remain the number one driver of homicides in Trinidad and Tobago.
02:20And every weapon seized is a life potentially saved.
02:24Women officers have been at the forefront of all of these operations.
02:27He also boasted of a 41% decrease in murders this year as compared to the same period last year.
02:44Violent crimes are done by 20%.
02:47Tell my ally.
02:48Clap for that.
02:52Serious reported crimes done by 13%.
02:54And what is nice about it, I would like this figure to be at 100% or at nil at all to investigate.
03:04But murder detection rate has improved from 15% to almost 20%.
03:10And violent crime detection rate is now at 24%, which has now surpassed our own national target.
03:20He urged those in attendance to remember the women who broke barriers in 1955,
03:26those who rose through initial resistance, and those who now lead with distinction in the police service.
03:32To every woman in uniform here today, and those who are holding the force in the stations while we are able here to do so do,
03:41I want to say you are not just part of history, but you are shaping our future.
03:46Sharla Kistel, TV6 News.
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