Pubdate: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 Source: Trinidad Express (Trinidad) Copyright: 2006 Trinidad Express Contact: http://www.trinidadexpress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1093 Author: Carolyn Kissoon, South bureau COPS CRITICISED FOR GUNSHOT NEAR SCHOOL Police officers were not acting responsibly when they fired a gunshot near a primary school, while pupils were playing in the yard, National Parent/Teacher Association president Zena Ramatali said yesterday. She said the officers should have exercised more caution because teachers and pupils could have been injured. The incident happened at the St Margaret's Government Primary School during the lunch time break on Thursday. Police officers were about to lock up a man on drug trafficking charges when he broke away near the station and ran through the schoolyard. The school is separated from the station by a ten-foot-high fence. Police fired a shot in their bid to recapture the man. The suspect jumped the fence at the back of the school and attempted to escape in some bushes but was arrested by four waiting police officers. The frightened pupils began screaming and running into their classrooms, the Express was told. "It is unfortunate that something like this happened since the police are supposed to exercise extreme caution near a school environment. Innocent teachers and pupils could have been killed. "They should desist acting without thinking," she said. Ramatali said there was a great need for the reintroduction of community police within the education system. "Police officers near schools should also visit schools regularly and be a part of the school community," she said. The pupils, who were said to be traumatised over the incident, returned to classes yesterday. The Ministry of Education said counsellors and guidance officers would continue to visit the school to conduct sessions with the pupils. Clive Purmell, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), could not be reached for comment. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake