(T&T Guardian) – FORMER commissioner of police Gary Griffith is throwing his hat into the ring again for his former position as the nation’s ‘top cop.’

Griffith was appointed Commissioner of Police in 2018 and served in the post until August 2021.

Speaking yesterday at a press conference at the Hyatt Hotel in Port-of-Spain, Griffith said that the country was in a “dire crisis.”

Griffith, who is now interim political leader of the National Transformation Alliance (NTA), said he did a poll among his followers, and they overwhelmingly responded by saying that they would support him returning to the T&T Police Service (TTPS).

“We did ask the question to the rank and file of the NTA. 92 per cent of them stated that the country is in dire crisis, and they would require me to reapply as Commissioner of Police. Six per cent told me to continue to be political.

“Based on that, I have reapplied for the post of Commissioner of Police. The deadline was at 4pm on Thursday. I applied, and it was completed at just about 2 pm.”

Griffith said even if he does not assume the position again, he will give his support to whoever is in that position, and he will continue to serve the country.

He also said he was blessed by God, and he intends to use his gifts to help T&T.

“God has given me a gift. He has given me a gift. Where there was a situation, I applied for Commissioner of Police and on three occasions, there were three exams. If God has given me a gift, I think it would be improper for me not to utilise the gift to help my country.”

Asked if he was confident he would be given a fair assessment this time, and one “free of political interference” following the imbroglio with the previous Police Service Commission (PSC), Griffith said, “I have the utmost confidence in the present PSC.”

Griffith was suspended by the PSC headed by Bliss Seepersad less than 24 hours after he was due to have taken up the post as acting “top cop” in September. He challenged the PSC’s decision to suspend him.

He later called for an investigation into the removal of the merit list for commissioner of police as he sought to continue in the CoP post.

Griffith also accused Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley of interference, after he (Rowley) met with the PSC’s Bliss Seepersad, providing information on Griffith that led to the merit list being scrapped.

Griffith said with just about nine per cent of the population not wanting him to return to the office, “That might involve not just individuals who may be bitter or dislike Gary Griffith. And that is their right, but there are criminal elements in this country; there are criminal elements in the police service, as small as it may be, and there are criminal elements not just with pants hanging, but in suits and these individuals were very concerned by what I was doing as COP.”