Officers fighting hurts police reputation

MEMBERS of the public are again left to wonder how far they can trust the disciplined forces to conduct their duties in a professional and responsible manner.
While the recent clash among police officers at Bomana in Port Moresby is being investigated, it still does not bode well for the reputation and image of the constabulary.
Misconduct or lapses in discipline by police officers not only harm them but also damage the reputation of the constabulary at large.
Generally, they do not represent the good work of the vast majority of the men and women of the constabulary who strive to be loyal to the oath of office they had taken.
It is not the first time members of the forces entrusted with maintaining law and order in this nation have clashed among themselves in public, putting their lives and the lives of others in danger.
We have seen public clashes between police officers and soldiers.
Now the latest incident at the Bomana Police Training College was among police officers themselves.
At a time when members of the public are being encouraged to uphold the law and support police in maintaining law and order, it is disappointing to see police officers attacking each other.
It is alleged that guns were used at the Bomana incident.
At a time when police commanders and hardworking officers are trying to restore public confidence in the constabulary after the many reports of police brutality, the Bomana incident has to happen.
It again sets a very bad example to the people who police are trying to woo to their side.
It is totally irresponsible, to say the least.
It is a disgrace to the constabulary.
The incident at Bomana and other similar confrontations between members of the disciplined forces will continue to raise questions about the kind of training provided and the kind of people who are being trained for these jobs.
The public rightly expects men and women in uniform to be mature and on a higher plane moral conduct than the everyday man.
It is expected that training in a military camp or police college should condition those coming out of them to display such qualities.
Where a civilian may be tempted to “strike first and ask questions later”, the soldier and the policemen should always maintain the law and have a sense of respect for human dignity.
What we see and hear of instead in such cases is a shameful lack of discipline by members of the disciplined forces and respect for their jobs and their colleagues.
We pity the commanders of the forces and the many loyal hard-working officers who have been working hard to build and strengthen the relationship with the people.
It is good to see Police Minister Jelta Wong quickly getting on top of the matter as investigations into the incident are carried out.
Wong has again reminded officers of the code of conduct they are guided by plus the oath of office they take.
After being briefed on the incident, he directed that established discipline protocols be enforced, resulting in the suspension of those involved.
He also reminds the officers that the Government’s one-strike-and-you-are-out policy remains in force for the disciplined services.
There is no excuse indeed for any breach of the code of conduct.