In 1592 the Spaniards founded the first European settlement, Trinidad's capital town San Jose de Oruna (St Joseph).

By the end of 1842 there were twelve police stations and approximately one hundred officers comprising inspectors, sergeants and constables.

The general pattern of law enforcement in the 1840s was, once arrested the police took the accused to the station or if he was recalcitrant, held him and sent to call the sergeant.

The Police Headquarters at the corner of St. Vincent and Sackville Streets was completed in 1876 housing approximately four hundred and fifty–two (452) men.

By the 1970s the Police Service had grown in strength to 3,399 members and was placed under the portfolio of the Ministry of National Security.

During the past two decades the strength of the service has grown to 6436 officers with several new specialist Units being introduced.

The TTPS is divided into various squads and units including: In 2018, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service began planning to equip its officers with body cameras, pepper spray, and tasers.

[22] In 2019, TTPS made plans to acquire more body cameras, tasers, and pepper sprays to give to their officers.