Police officers gone rogue

WHAT does it say about the state of country’s police force when there is literally conflict within its ranks? Not much.
In fact, it bodes ill for the confidence the public has in law enforcement.
On Monday, several Port Moresby-based policemen
attached to the Central Highway Patrol were assaulted by another group of police personnel who, some sources say, were members of a regional mobile squad which currently operates out of the McGregor barracks at Moitaka. This incident occurred at around noon in plain view of the public in the Gordon suburb.
For no apparent reason, and without warning, the local police officers travelling in a hired vehicle were stopped by their colleagues from out of town and set upon.
What can the public glean from this unsavoury display by members of the department charged with our safety and to keep the peace and order in the community?
If, as some sources indicate, this was part of an operation to identify and weed out crooked cops, then could it not have been done in a more civil and less confrontational manner?
If strong-arm tactics are the order of the day when conducting internal investigations, we are concerned that if the police can mistreat their own, how much more willing will they be when discharging their duties on the public?
There are corrupt police officers in the force. That is an undeniable fact. From extorting money and services in the line of duty, coercing witnesses, brutalising suspected felons, acting on the whim of political masters, aiding and abetting criminals and having questionable interactions with known criminals to accepting bribes and commissions for work outside their official employment, the list of transgressions is as long and varied as those of any other state department or government for that matter.
Reports alleged that some of these assaulted police officers were under surveillance by police internal investigators and that the events of Monday were a culmination of those investigations. If that is the case, why have not formal charges been laid against anyone?
The aspect that separates police officers and other law enforcement agencies from other individuals is that their job requires them to be none of the above.
They are society’s watchdog. They are the people on the street, working 24-7 to create a secure environment for everyone.
When they start to go bad and take liberties with their position to the point where they stop being public assets and instead liabilities is not always evident but its impact can be far reaching.
It has been well documented that a fissure had developed in the hierarchy of the force last year. This was evident at the height of the Kulunga-Yakasa stand-off last year after the opposing claimants for government appointed two separate police commanders.
In some ways, this latest incident serves to highlight the divisions that exist in the Royal PNG Constabulary.
It also mirrors just how fractured our supposedly unified force is because despite assurances from Police Commissioner Tom Kulunga about the force being fully prepared for its biggest assignment in June – the national election – Monday’s shenanigans makes a mockery of that.
Outwardly, the force will take another hit on its reputation and credibility because no information has been forthcoming on this episode.
Forty-eight hours have already elapsed and the assault occurred in the capital city of PNG. This matter must be brought to a head.
Kulunga needs to make a statement on this and for want of a better term, distill any fears that may arise.
Police Minister John Boito stated that the matter would be investigated and appropriate action taken against whoever was guilty of breaking the law. That is encouraging but what he should also have confirmed was that this incident was either related to an on-going investigation targeting dishonest police officers or occurred for some other reason.
We would like to think that the constabulary is not only capable of pursuing offenders from the broader community, as they are expected to, but also effectively regulate its own employees.
After all, with public confidence in the government and judiciary wavering, we would like to think the police force is at least focused on its job.