Our “Meet SLASPA’s Port Police Management Team” series this week is on Mr. Martin President, Deputy Chief of Port Police – Southern Division. Mr. Martin President enlisted in the Port Police Department on January 20th 1986. Upon graduation from the Police Training School, he captured three of the seven prizes up for grabs which were Best Recruit and Baton of Honors, Best at all Practical and Military Subjects and Best Pistol Shot. He was first deployed at the Vieux Fort Seaport on July 3, 1986. He realized he had a passion for the Court and an unrestrained desire to become a Court Prosecutor, so he spent most of his spare time at the Magistrate’s Court, where he acquired a wealth of experience and exposure in Magistrates Court Procedure.

Mr. President’s performance in that arena, eventually rewarded him with a transfer to Hewanorra International Airport, where he was promoted to the rank of Corporal in 1992. He captured the Port Police Employee of the Year Award for the Southern Division, as well as the SLASPA south employee of the year award, in 1998. In September of 2000, he was promoted to act in the rank of Sergeant and was confirmed in February 2001 where he became the first person to assume the Position of Sergeant in charge of Prosecution and Investigations in the Southern Division. A self‐made prosecutor without conventional prosecution training and well versed in the areas of gathering, preservation and delivery of evidence.

On April 1st 2007 he was confirmed in the rank of Inspector after acting in the position for a year. In 2011, he acted in the rank of Chief of Port Police, then Deputy Chief of Port Police (DCOPP) and was confirmed in the rank of Deputy Chief of Port Police – Southern Division (DCOPP‐S) on November 1st, 2011. This promotion makes him the first officer to assume the rank of DCOPP‐S in the Department. He is one of few officers who have had the benefit of operating at a supervisory level, at every station in the two Divisions of the Department. Mr. President is also a Certified Aviation Security instructor, and has been involved in the internal training of the Port Police and other Security outfits.

In the area of self‐development, he studied at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and obtained passes in the following areas: Business Law, Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Computer Applications, Micro Economics, Communication Studies II and III and Principles of management. He has also been afforded training locally and regionally where he obtained certificates in a number of disciplines including: Hostage Negotiation, Aviation Security Management, ISPS, Aviation Security Instructors and Essential Instructors Course, Program Development Course, Supervisory Management techniques, Major Case Management, Creating Winners In the Workplace, Correcting and Controlling Absenteeism, Supervisory Customer Service Training, Dangerous Goods, Drug Interdiction, Law Enforcement Pistol and Shotgun Training and Crisis Management Training to name a few.

Mr. President is a founding member of the Ports Police Welfare Association and presently holds the position of Treasurer on the executive of the Association. Along with other Senior Ports Police Officers, he was instrumental in the development of the Ports Police Standing Orders as well as the Aerodrome Operator Security Program.

Look out for our next profile on Mr. Fintan Albert, Inspector.