Police Intelligence Triggered Urgent Maloney Deployment, Commissioner Guevarro Refuses to Reveal Possible Retaliation Threat
Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro says intelligence prompted urgent police action in Maloney, leading to the overnight installation of two police micro-units within the community following its designation as a closed area under the Special Operations Act, 2026.
Speaking during a media briefing, Guevarro explained that the units were established to provide residents with direct access to police services while officers respond to a security situation that authorities have not publicly detailed.
The Commissioner said the units were placed in Maloney overnight and were intended to function as community liaison centres.
Residents would be able to communicate with officers, obtain permits and provide information that could assist police operations.
Guevarro indicated that he intended to visit Maloney immediately after the briefing to ensure the units were operational.
Why Maloney?
Questions were raised about why Maloney had been selected for such urgent intervention while other communities were also experiencing serious violent crime.
One reporter specifically referenced the Central Division, where two women had been killed at a spa, asking why similar measures had not been introduced there.
Guevarro responded that the intelligence available to police pointed to a different situation in Maloney.
“The intelligence suggested something different for Maloney, and we had to act quickly,” the Commissioner stated.
However, he did not disclose what specific information had prompted the intervention.
Was Retaliation Feared?
The Commissioner was also questioned about whether the intelligence involved possible retaliation or an escalation of violence.
Guevarro declined to provide that information.
“And that I wouldn’t disclose to you,” he responded.
His refusal leaves the precise nature of the perceived threat undisclosed, although it does not establish that retaliation was involved.
Body Cameras Also Questioned
The briefing also addressed the use of body-worn cameras by officers operating under the Special Operations Act.
Asked whether body cameras were being utilised, Guevarro said officers used them whenever they were available.
He acknowledged that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service currently had only slightly more than 100 usable body cameras.
The Commissioner said the service was engaged in a procurement process to obtain additional equipment.
His remarks raise further questions about the availability of body cameras during operations involving heightened police powers.
Residents Await Further Clarity
The establishment of the police micro-units comes as Maloney residents adjust to restrictions associated with the Government’s declaration of the community as a closed area.
While police say the measures are intelligence-driven and intended to address a security threat, the public has not been told the precise circumstances that prompted the intervention.
For residents, immediate concerns include obtaining permits, accessing essential services and understanding how the restrictions will affect their daily lives.
The Commissioner’s statements confirm that police acted on intelligence they considered urgent, but they do not establish whether the operation was prompted by fears of retaliation, planned violence or another specific threat.
As the operation continues, questions remain about the duration of the restrictions, the intelligence behind the deployment and the safeguards available to affected residents.