Call for more investigative reporting

 GOVERNOR-General Sir Michael Ogio said he was distressed by complaints against police in the media.

But while praising the media for its reporting, he castigated it for failing to get both sides of the story.

“I praise the press for revealing the shortcomings of some of our police members but a little more investigative detail and professionalism would reveal two sides to any story,” he said.

“Far from being a collection of rogue elements, shakedown artists, deadwood and uniformed thugs and wife abusers, the constabulary as a whole maintains its sense of duty and purpose and the confidence of our citizenry.”

Sir Michael said those unidentifiable personnel who behaved as if they were in a war zone, who intimidate and threaten, were few in number. 

He was speaking at a dinner hosted by the RPNG Police Legacy Association last Friday in Port Moresby where he was made patron of the police association.

Sir Michael conferred life membership on former police commissioner Ila Geno, incumbent Tom Kulunga and senior police officer Alfred Reu. Geno is president of the association and Kulunga his deputy.

Sir Michael also inaugurated the association’s education trust fund for the children of deceased police officers.