Lae police object to positions reshuffle

CHANGES in the top police echelon in Lae and Morobe have not gone down well with local officers.
With the appointment of Thomas Kulunga as police commissioner last week, Lae will see changes in its three top positions – divisional commander Momase, Lae metropolitan superintendent and provincial police commander.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Giossi Labi has resigned from the force and his deputy, Allen Kundi, has been appointed divisional commander Momase.
Provincial police commander Peter Guinness will take up his new post of National Capital District metropolitan commander.
Lae metropolitan commander Supt Nema Mondiai will be replaced by Joseph Tondop, who was the NCD metropolitan commander.
Police officers in Lae have applauded Kundi’s appointment but said the metropolitan superintendent’s job should have been given to a non-highlander given the ethnic troubles going on in the city.
But they were quick to point out that the appointment of Tondop should have been done on merit.
They said a senior officer from elsewhere in the country could have been better.
Former PPC Guinness, they said, should have been moved to head Lae metropolitan instead of being sent to the National Capital District.