Minister for Police, Hon. William Gogl Onglo, has condemned the damage to a brand new Police Vehicle donated by the Australian Federal Police overturned on New Year’s Eve, (31st December 2020,) at the Bomana Police College in the National Capital District.
The Police Minister said this is the second incident involving an AFP donated vehicle.
Minister Onglo expressed frustration over the lack of ownership shown by the members of Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary in looking after assets belonging to the Police Force.
He said for two brand new AFP donated vehicles to be damaged within a span of six months, is totally unacceptable.
“I am furious that we have two brand new AFP donated vehicles damaged by members of the Constabulary.”
“These are vital assets that the RPNGC needs to effectively carry out its duties in maintaining law and order in our country.”
“The vehicles were presented to us by our Australian counterparts and to have them damaged due to the recklessness of a few police officers, only tarnishes our image and takes us a step back in the Government’s efforts to modernise the Constabulary.
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of the Police officers who have damaged the two vehicles, and categorically state that their actions do not represent the values, ethics and discipline that the RPNGC believes in and abide by.”
The Police Minister is urging the rank and file of the Constabulary to be responsible, and take ownership of assets, especially vehicles, that belong to the RPNGC.
“We need to ‘STEP UP,” said the Minister.
“We need to take full responsibility and ownership of every asset that we own or else we will continue to see more destruction to RPNGC properties and vehicles.”
“Not only will this negatively impact the work of the RPNGC, but the cost involved in repairing or replacing those assets. The opportunity cost to this is the investment in other urgent and vital requirements of the Constabulary.”
Minister Onglo commended the decision of NCD Metropolitan Superintendent, Perou N’Dranou, to suspend the officer involved in the incident for 21 days.
“I commend the NCD Metropolitan Superintendent for making the touch decision to suspend the police officer involved in the incident. If investigations prove that the officer was under the influence of alcohol, as empty beer bottles were found in the vehicle, the officer must be terminated from the Constabulary.”
“I urge the senior police hierarchy including the Provincial Police Commanders, Divisional Commanders, Assistant Commissioners, and the Commissioner of Police, to take this hard-line approach to deter further damage to police vehicles and other assets.”
The first accident involving an AFP donated vehicle occurred on August 9th, 2020. The Officer involved in that accident has been terminated.