Cork's top cop 'optimistic' city will be assigned more gardaí 

The head of policing in Cork city is “optimistic” that a greater number of new gardaí will soon be assigned to the metropolitan area.

Chief Superintendent Tom Myers, who is in charge of the Cork city garda division, told The Echo he is hopeful that the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, will assign additional resources to the city. Earlier this month, 120 gardaí graduated from the Garda Training College in Templemore, with 74 going to Dublin and only three to Cork city.

A further two officers were transferred to Cork city. 

Cancelled

However, according to the Garda Representative Association (GRA), which represents the majority of rank-and-file gardaí, promotions and retirements cancelled out that intake of five. The GRA has said that as many as 40 gardaí were barred from promotions, as their advancement would deplete the frontline.

Mr Myers said it was his expectation that a greater number of recruits would soon be assigned to Cork. “We have put in a case, and we have been promised that we will get them. We haven’t got as many as I would like to date, but I suspect that will change going forward from what I’m hearing,” he said.

Mr Myers added that Cork was extremely busy, and it would be “remiss” of him not to say more resources were needed.

“There’s not a division around the country that doesn’t need extra resources, and I’m no exception to that,” he said.

“I understand that there are competing demands around the country. The commissioner has to make a decision about whether they go to Dublin, Limerick, Galway, Donegal, or wherever the case may be.

“We are very busy, we have a lot of issues, we have some vacancies in specialist units like the armed support unit, the roads policing unit, community policing unit, drug unit, and all the rest of it.

“People get promoted, people move on, people get transferred, people retire, and that’s the changes in the organisation,” Mr Myers said.

Optimistic

“I am optimistic that we will get some new blood into the city, and we really look forward to that, because they’ll be gainfully employed in the city, I can assure you of that.”

The next attestation ceremony for garda graduates at Templemore is provisionally planned for Friday, August 29.

Mr Myers said the city division was “in line” to introduce body-worn cameras for gardaí.

“It’s been run at the moment in Dublin, in two divisions, and in Limerick and Waterford, and that’s being scrutinised for proof of concept. Work has begun here in Anglesea Street Garda Station in relation to the electrics.

“We’re not exactly sure yet when we will have them, but it’s going to be a game-hanger for us,” he said.

“The whole purpose of the body-worn camera is to de-escalate situations, and I’m hearing from my colleagues around the country, the other chief superintendents, that we are getting there.”