Pastor loses SRP rank
Pastor Ian Albert Ezekiel Brown has been stripped of his Special Reserve Police (SRP) officer status in the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.
This was confirmed by Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher yesterday at a news conference, at the Police Administration building, Port of Spain.
At the time, Christopher was responding to questions posed to her by members of the media surrounding Brown and the Strategic Services Agency (SSA).
She noted this was done on Tuesday, but declined to speak further on the matter, citing an ongoing investigation.
Former commissioner of police Gary Griffith had previously indicated that the SSA had asked that Brown be made an SRP so he could aid in various operations by the agency. Approval was granted by Griffith.
However, he noted it was “one of hundreds” of applications that came under his purview during his tenure as police commissioner where requests would be made to have persons appointed as an SRP officer to aid in operations based on qualifications.
He said at all times there was due diligence, and that checks were made to ensure the individual indeed had the necessary qualifications, as well as met other requirements.
This process, he noted, was nothing new as other police commissioners have appointed persons as SRPs to aid with enquiries and unearthing information that was difficult to attain.
Brown shot into the spotlight last month when he told the Express he was a spy for the SSA. His Arima home and his churches—the Jerusalem Bride (JB Church) in Malabar, Arima, and the Eden Restored Church in Caratal—were subsequently searched by police.
Brown said he has been a spy for decades and worked as an SRP attached to the SSA as an intelligence officer.
Previously, Brown said he had not received any communication from the SSA that he is terminated from his position, and he had not been asked to provide any statements or answer any questions with respect to any audit or investigation.
“I know about this season and I know it’s going to get worse; I have to be strong and an example of what it means to not back down,” he said, adding he intends to be cautious whom he speaks to and where.
Last week, he claimed several “righteous” SSA employees were being moved from their positions.
He said he will be divulging the name of the Government minister whom he claims has ties to the underworld, if certain people are affected.
The pastor said then he remains true to his word and he has always been above board in his operations, and he was working with others to clean up corruption in the SSA.
Acting SSA head Anthony Phillips-Spencer, who was recalled from Washington where he was posted as ambassador, has been tasked with conducting an extensive review and audit of all personnel, equipment and processes within the SSA.
Phillips-Spencer was appointed to act as SSA head after the agency’s director, Major Roger Best, was sent on administrative leave on March 2.