WHEN Erla Harewood-Christopher made history on February 3, 2023, becoming Trinidad and Tobago's first-ever female Commissioner of Police, her appointment, which received unanimous backing in Parliament, marked a milestone in the country's policing history.
Yet, as her tenure unfolds, it has been a time of both progress and challenges, with questions raised about the effectiveness of her crime-reduction strategies and her leadership during a period of rising public concern over crime.
Harewood-Christopher, who had served as acting commissioner since December 2022 before her confirmation, is no stranger to the demands of law enforcement.
In May, Cabinet approved her extension in office for a year as she turned 61, which comes to an end on May 15, 2025. Since her appointment, Harewood-Christopher has not gone on any vacation leave.
She is entitled to one-month vacation each year. The government can extend the current officeholder for an additional two years or seek to recruit a new CoP.
Starting her career in 1982 as a constable, she climbed the ranks, holding positions across various divisions, including human resources, IT and administration. The Prime Minister said she was the "highest-grade candidate" for the role.
Shortly after assuming office, Harewood-Christopher unveiled her violent crime reduction plan targeting a 20 per cent decrease in murders, a 15 per cent increase in gun seizures, and a 30 per cent improvement in crime-detection rates.
The plan also included reducing the 2022 murder toll of 605 by 121, aiming for a target of 484 murders in 2023. However, despite efforts, the end-of-year statistics for 2023 told a different story, with the murder rate decreasing by 28, ending the year at 577, making it the second-highest on record.
For this year, the murder toll has already reached 569.
The plan, a comprehensive 41-page document, outlined strategies to tackle the rising tide of violent crime. It focused on targeting repeat offenders, disrupting gang activity and improving police accountability. Increased collaboration with the US to combat gun trafficking was also emphasised, along with an effort to improve police-community relations.
Despite the high hopes placed in her plan, Harewood-Christopher was unable to meet the targets she set out. During a February meeting with Parliament's National Security Joint Select Committee (JSC), she admitted some of the targets had been "a bit exaggerated," saying they were set with the intention of motivating the police force.
While she expressed frustration over the inability to meet those targets, she defended the plan’s underlying strategies, citing successes in firearm seizures and gang disruption as notable achievements.
In addition to her operational efforts, Harewood-Christopher has faced criticism for her frequent references to faith in public statements.
In March 2023, speaking at a meeting with the Greater Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce, she sparked nationwide debate when she said, "Unless we enlist the help of God, we will be worki
