THE Professional Standards Unit of the Police Service has recommended the suspension of the police constable seen on video slapping and arresting a man, who later appeared in court charged with assaulting the police officer.
The constable has taken 28 days sick leave, but the Professional Standards Unit, headed by Senior Supt Solomon Koon Koon, on Wednesday sent correspondence to acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams making the recommendation.
Williams had earlier that day described the conduct of the police officer as reprehensible, unacceptable and unprofessional, but said the officer would remain on active duty until the completion of the "high priority" investigation.
The Express was unable to determine if Williams acted on the recommendation yesterday.
The constable is also under investigation by the Police Complaints Authority as a result of the video uploaded to social networking sites last weekend and which showed civilian Terrence Augustine, 40, being slapped and taken away in a police car during an incident at St Margaret's Junction, Claxton Bay, on Independence Day last Friday.
Augustine was charged with resisting arrest, assaulting PC Richard Kishore and using insulting language.
He appeared in court on Monday and was granted $20,000 bail.
Augustine, a building contractor, told the Express on Wednesday he did nothing to provoke the attack and the slap had left him with blurred vision and unable to work.
His attorney, Cedric Neptune, told the Express yesterday he was preparing to serve a pre-action protocol letter on the State, alleging that Augustine was wrongfully arrested, maliciously prosecuted, and that he be compensated for the assault and battery and breach of his constitutional rights.
Augustine also plans to file a criminal counter charge against the officer for assault. Told of the recommendation of the Professional Standards Unit, Neptune said: "This was an unprovoked and unacceptable attack on this man, and we are surprised that the officer has not been suspended already.
article reproduced verbatim from Express Trinidad
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