Police: Bogia station is wild-west area

By PISAI GUMAR
THE heart of the Bogia district administration centre in Madang province is a hotbed of criminal activity, police say.
Bogia police station commander Chief Sgt Sawaer Adolf said there was chaos and a breakdown in law and order at the station and its three local council areas of Almamami, Yawar and Yabu.
The centre has no electricity, affecting all government agencies especially health and police.
The five generators there do not work and the generators’ house is covered in bushes.
The station is ruled by homebrew drinkers and drug addicts who openly carry pocket and bush knives, resulting in the two shops closing at 4.06pm.
Government facilities there include a health centre, correctional services  lockup and public servants accommodation facilities that are   run-down.
 “Although there were 12 policemen living in rundown colonial accommodation, there is no proper police barracks, station and cell block to contain suspects,” Adolf said.
“Young men have no respect for government services, public servants and law and order anymore.
“The station is an outlaw and wild-west area ruined by homebrew and drug addicts.
“Most cases involving murder and rape suspects need to be transported the same day to Madang town but that is tough because the only police vehicle broke down seven years ago.”
Adolf was recently transferred to take charge of Bogia district but has no accommodation at the station. He lives in his village while the family is in Madang town.
A CS rural lockup was established but is no longer functional.
He said police received no District Support Improvement Programme (DSIP) funding from local MP John Hickey and the joint district planning and budget priorities committee.
“Police in the district survive from the police department’s purse and when the source dries out, we dry up,” Sawaer said.
He said the health centre was no longer safe for human habitation.
He said the men’s ward had three plywood beds without mattresses and bed covers, while women’s beds were torn apart and infested with flees.