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FORMER head of the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) Insp Mark Hernandez has denied an attorney's claims that his 19-year-old son is a member of the unit.
On Sunday, attorney Gerald Ramdeen, who was until recently part of Hernandez’s legal team, said Hernandez has a teenage son in the specialised unit.
Newsday called Hernandez on Wednesday and he said the statement needed to be supported, adding that John Heath was his attorney, before ending the call.
Newsday also contacted Police Commissioner Gary Griffith. The CoP said he "does not divulge details pertaining to police officers, especially if they are assigned to any specialist units."
Asked about the criteria to join the special unit, Griffith said: “Every single person who enters SORT is specially trained. In that type of training, many citizens would not last a day. So the type of training to become a member of SORT is similar to persons who enter Multi-Operational Police Section (MOPS) and the Guard and Emergency Branch (GEB).” He added that it was a specific type of training, and was not offered on an invitation, but there was a criterion.
"It is very stringent. Intense training is done to ensure that you can understand the enormous responsibility.
Griffith said SORT is the only unit, besides Special Branch, whose duties include guarding the President and Prime Minister, that is polygraph-tested, and he hopes to have other units do the same.
Griffith also dismissed rumours that SORT officers are paid better than other units, saying they are all paid the same as other Special Reserve Police officers and have specific allowances. He did not list the allowances when asked, saying each unit would have different allowances.
Asked if 19 was too young to become a member of SORT, given that ta teenager would have very little experience of policing, he said the selection of SORT officers is not just about policing.
Referring to his own experience in the Defence Force, he said: “I was a teenager and after my training in the military I was asked and qualified to lead over 70 men, and in battle. I am a perfect example. Before I cracked 23, I was in command of troops of over 50 men, most of whom were old enough to be my father. But because of the training I had, I was put in that position.”
Hernandez, after being charged with misbehaviour in public office, was suspended and removed as head of SORT. He was replaced on Wednesday by Supt Roger Alexander.
Griffith said at a media conference that he will not say why he selected Alexander to replace Hernandez, adding that if he did so, he would have to justify why he appointed heads of other units.
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