On October 12, U.S. Embassy Port of Spain concluded an advanced homicide investigations training course for 30 officers from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s (TTPS) Homicide Bureau of Investigations (HBI).

The training, led by Detective Sergeant Rick McAfee, Detective Kurt Lipinski, and Detective Joe Piatchek from the Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office (PBSO), included classroom sessions and several days of fieldwork.  PBSO detectives visited four HBI regions and accompanied TTPS investigators to crime scenes to observe investigative techniques and provide mentorship.

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Shante Moore said, “We recognize that crime and violence are major concerns for the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.  The United States is working with the TTPS and other agencies of the Trinidad and Tobago Government to help reduce violent crime by strengthening the investigative capacity of law enforcement officers and tackle the root causes of violent crime.  We are confident this training will bring results and help to make Trinidad and Tobago a safer place for all.”

To complement this training, the U.S. Embassy will support the participation of a group of eight TTPS officers and Ministry of National Security officials in a homicide investigations train-the-trainer program at the PBSO in Florida in January 2023.

The U.S. Embassy’s Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement has a memorandum of understanding with the PBSO to support international law enforcement, justice sector reform, and anti-crime efforts in Trinidad and Tobago.  The PBSO has had a cooperative relationship with the TTPS since 2018.  The PBSO previously trained 30 TTPS homicide investigators in September 2021.