Abusive police recruits get the sack

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
POLICE have dismissed the 37 newly recruited police officers still on probation after laying charges against them for bullying new recruits at the Bomana Police Training College.
Commandant Superintendent Peter Philip, pictured, said they received their dismissal notice yesterday, however, eight were still at large and are expected to receive theirs today.
“The ones who got their dismissal notices wept bitterly before us to give them a second chance. I told them that we cannot do much as they have brought such harsh punishment upon themselves”.
Philip said all 37 have been put off the payroll and would fly out today to their provinces from where they were recruited.
Philip said they were suspended three months ago and were under investigation for disobeying lawful orders, disgraceful conduct and prejudicial conduct at the college.
The 37 had harassed the new intakes at the college, verbally abusing them and forcing them to strip and put their clothes out in the rain.
“Then they ordered them to do push-ups and forced them to do all sorts of exercises in the barracks,” Philip said.
“They punched them and told them to be strong as it was the treatment they got.”
He said each of the 37 received three charges each totalling 111 charges. The internal affairs directorate dealt with their charges.
Police commissioner Gari Baki, who has been vocal about police conduct and discipline, wasted no time in dishing out the penalty which is dismissal from the constabulary forthwith.
Philip said there were 258 members in that intake.
The rest of that batch have now been deployed for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation duties.