Copyright trinidadexpress
Former Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs has died in Australia after suffering a medical emergency during an international sporting event earlier this month. Gibbs, 70, a Canadian national and the first foreigner to serve as Commissioner of Police in Trinidad and Tobago, collapsed while competing in the Age Group Standard Aquabike Championships in Wollongong, New South Wales, on October 16. According to official results, Gibbs, who was registered in the 70–74 age category, did not finish the race. The championship, held from October 15 to 19, featured several days of competition across swimming, cycling, and running disciplines. News of his death reached the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) over the weekend, when former Deputy Commissioner Jack Ewatski informed senior officers via email. “It is with great sadness that I learned yesterday that Dwayne Gibbs, our friend and colleague, passed away in Australia after suffering a medical emergency during a triathlon event ten days ago,” Ewatski wrote. In an official statement yesterday, current Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro expressed condolences to Gibbs’s family, friends, and colleagues, describing him as “a man of integrity, discipline, and unwavering belief in ethical leadership.” Guevarro said Gibbs’s passion for fitness and personal excellence was “a testament to his character,” noting that he remained active and competitive well into his 70s. Gibbs, a former superintendent with the Edmonton Police Service, was appointed Commissioner of Police in 2010, alongside Ewatski, who served as his deputy. The two Canadians were selected by the Police Service Commission (PSC) and approved by Parliament as part of a government initiative to modernise the TTPS through international expertise. Their tenure, however, came during one of the country’s most challenging periods for crime control. Gibbs and Ewatski both resigned in mid-2012, and their departures were announced by then Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who thanked them for their service. During his time in office, Gibbs introduced management and accountability systems, promoted the use of technology in policing, and sought to instill higher professional standards across the service. Commissioner Guevarro said Gibbs’s “legacy of service and leadership will not be forgotten.”
