Police must count the bullets

 TRIGGER-happy policemen are continuing to roam our streets and countryside.

These so-called law enforcers are as dangerous as the criminals they pursue.

Many of their victims are innocent and law-abiding people.

Since the beginning of this year, the news media has been inundated with reports of police brutality cases, including shooting incidents.

Not many days go by without news headlines of someone being bashed up or shot by the police.

Police brutality reached a new level in May when more than 70 men, residents of a settlement in the National Capital District, were assaulted and wounded by a group of policemen.

It was alleged that the heavily-armed policemen forced the large group of men from Morobe, who were on their way to an ethnic clash, to lie on the ground while they slashed their Achilles tendons with bush knives.

The incident received wide publicity following the intervention by Justice David Cannings of the National and Supreme Courts who summoned the NCD police command to appear in court to explain the incident.

An outraged Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga described the alleged police action as “totally unbelievable”. 

“We have no place for such evil and brutal policemen or women,” he said then.

Another high-profile case involved the shooting deaths of notorious bank robber and prison escapee, William Kapris, and his accomplice, Raphael Walimini, on the Hiritano Highway, near Port Moresby, in July after police caught up with them.

There have been questions raised over the escapees’ deaths for they bore closer resemblance to executions than as a result of a shootout.

Chief among them was why police were unable to secure the pair and return them to Bomana jail from which they had escaped about 10 weeks earlier.

Relatives of Kapris have called for an independent investigation into the killing.

It is September and we still do not know if such an investigation has taken place, or, if it ever will.

In a similar case, a man suspected of robbery, rape and escaping from custody, was shot dead by police in Popondetta, Northern. 

The police officer who allegedly shot and killed the suspect is in police custody after appearing in court and charged with wilful murder and unlawful discharge of a firearm.

Two weeks before the killing of Kapris and Walimini, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill had warned rogue policemen who were armed with high-powered firearms not to purse political leaders on the pretext of carrying out their normal duties.

O’Neill issued the warning after complaints by several MPs about the strong-arm tactics employed by these rogue policemen in trying to haul them in to face various charges and cases they were involved in.

Despite the growing concerns by the political leadership, police hierarchy and the community at large, rogue cops continue to run rough-shod over innocent and defenceless citizens.

The death of a young man in Manus in August at the hands of five policemen highlights this total lack of discipline and absolute disobedience of the country’s laws by a minority who seem hellbent on destroying all that the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary stands for.

Kulunga has vowed to rid the constabulary of rogue cops and other unwanted elements but he now needs to walk the talk on discipline.

He should take similar measures announced recently by Defence Minister Fabian Pok to clean up that particular disciplined force of its rogue elements. 

These tough new measures include the termination of employment without benefits for those found guilty of brutality, violence and other illegal or criminal acts.

The police hierarchy needs to send a loud and clear message to its rank and file members that enough is enough.

Kulunga and his top brass also need to review their firearms regulations.

Police firearms should be held in the armoury and only issued when there is a need.

Selected officers should undergo a rigid screening process and training before they are allowed to carry and use firearms. 

The regulations must only permit them to use their firearms in self-defence or to protect citizens from being hurt or killed.

Under no other circumstances should they discharge a firearm. Every bullet must be accounted for.