Son follows in dad’s footsteps

 LIKE father like son – it’s as real and true for anyone else as for Superintendent Victor Isouve and Inspector Alexander Isouve.

The two commissioned police officers are a father and son from Moveave, Malalaua in Gulf province proudly serving in the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary.

 Alexander graduated from the Bomana Police College at the rank of inspector at age 32 on April 5.

His dad is Supt Victor Isouve, Oro’s provincial police commander who has spent the past 37 years in the police force.

Supt Isouve, who witnessed his son’s commissioning as a police inspector, could not believe how a young man could reach that rank after a relatively short time in the force. He joined the constabulary in 2001.

“It took me over 20 years to become an inspector,” Isouve Snr said.

“I became a superintendent in 2007. I am proud of Alexander. He had made quite a big leap in such a short time.”

It is a commissioned rank which comes with its benefits including housing.

Supt Isouve, who was shot by criminals in his right leg while serving as a young officer in Oro in the 1980s, said being a policeman was no easy job.

“I told Alexander that being a policeman is no easy job because his life would be at risk all the time,” he said.

He urged young people who want to climb up the ladder in whatever profession they are in to commit themselves to their duties.

Insp Isouve was a detective with the transnational crime unit in Kokopo, East Britain, prior to taking up the two-year cadetship programme at the Bomana Police Training College. His brother John Isouve is also a policeman based in Port Moresby.