The Trinidad and Tobago Police service the motto stands To protect and serve with P.R.I.D.E . The acronym P.R.I.D.E stands for
Professionalism - We will be efficient, diligent, thorough and informed in performing our work and will adopt a deliberate approach to be humble, kind, understanding, empathetic and considerate when interacting with our clients.
Respect - We will exhibit respect, tolerence and sensitivity to each other, irrespective to rank, status or class.
Integrity - We will be honest, applying the highest ethical standards in the performance of all aspects of our duties, doing always what we are obligated to do in an objective and equitable manner, not compromising ourselves to allowing personal benefit to influence our decisions.
Dignity - We will protect human dignity and maintain and uphold the rights of all persons.
Excellence - We will strive to achieve excellence in every service that we provide through our commitment of collaboration, communication, learning, mentoring, teamwork and the implementation of effective strategies.
World War II was a turning point in the social development of the country. There was an increase in female and juvenile offenders, and it became necessary to recruit females into the service. It was the first time women were recruited in Trinidad, and the law was amended accordingly.
On August 12, 1955, 12 women were selected from 1,700 applicants to be trained as policewomen over a six-month period.
Those selected were Pearl Bruce, Jessica Smith, Doreen Lumpress, Mavis Griffith, Cynthia Cole, Myrtle Payne, Cynthia Sealy, Elsie Cummings, Phyllis Wilson, Irene Cozier, Merle Lewis and Sheila Cipriani.
Pearl Bruce, who retired after reaching the rank of superintendent, recalled, "Training was rigid and at times it threatened our Christian upbringing, because we were prevented from attending church services during our training."
"An excerpt from the Daily Express,Nov 27, 2010"
A brief look into the history of Women In the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service