By Sue-Ann Wayow
PC CLARENCE GILKES was fatally shot in Diego Martin in April by one of his fellow police officers, a release of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) stated on Thursday.
The officers at the scene deliberately tried to mislead the Acting Police Commissioner Mc Donald Jacob.
It stated that this was one of the clearest cases of abuse of power investigated by the PCA.
The release stated, “The evidence revealed that officers of the TTPS shot at an unarmed civilian and, unfortunately, PC Clarence Gilkes became an unintended target.”
The officers informed Jacob that that the civilian shot PC Gilkes, which led to his death and caused the police service to launch a manhunt in order to “deal with the persons responsible for this act.”
These were the findings of the PCA having completed its independent investigation into the fatal shooting of PC Gilkes in Richplain, Diego Martin on April,22, 2022.
It stated, “The evidence revealed that officers of the TTPS shot at an unarmed civilian and, unfortunately, PC Clarence Gilkes became an unintended target.”
The PCA stated, “Further evidence revealed that police officers deliberately misled the Ag CoP on the events that transpired.’
The PCA stated that the scientific evidence gathered by the PCA clearly demonstrated PC Gilkes was fatally shot by one of his fellow officers.
Police had claimed that PC Gilkes was shot and killed by gunmen in the area and began searching for a 29-year-old male suspect.
An autopsy report revealed that he was shot from behind.
In May, three police officers were suspended with pay until the investigations were over.
The PCA stated that it has made recommendations to both the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the office of the Acting Commissioner of Police.
This is great investigation and I’m happy with the outcome , because if it was my son I’m telling you it would not be pretty. I am a expolice as well and this hurts a hundred because I worked with this young man’s father very nice guy great teacher.