Retiring cops a major concern

ABOUT 20 police officers in Wau, Bulolo, Morobe, are ready to be retrenched from active duty, adding more pressure to policing efforts in the town, Wau station commander Snr Insp Leo Kaikas says.
He said 18 officers would be retiring soon and it would cause disruptions to police work.
Insp Kaikas said with the Wau cell being condemned since 2018, police had given their best to maintain law and order in the town.
“Yes, we are down in manpower, but that does not hinder us,” Insp Kaikas said.
“We go to lengths to carry out policing.”
He said with the support from a mobile squad from Kerowagi in Chimbu, the law and order situation has improved.
“However, I would like to make it clear that in our efforts to arrest suspects involved in the unrest between the Bianghais and the Warias, we have not made much progress.
“Not many arrests were made and communities are not coming forward voluntarily to support.”
Insp Kaikas said many of those who were involved in law and order problems in Wau town two months ago had gone into hiding or have migrated elsewhere.
He said they had withdrawn from the one-month operation and were doing normal policing duties.
“For the murder at Keremengi, we have arrested one suspect while the other three are still on the run, but we will still monitor the situation,” Insp Kaikas said.
He said police could not do arrests as there was no holding cell and they were faced with stationery and fuel issues.
“We are using only one vehicle while the other is still in service,” he said.