Top officer clarifies changes over senior job in East Sepik

By JUNIOR UKAHA
ASSISTANT Commissioner of Police (public safety) Jim Andrews said police appointments were the prerogative of the Police Commissioner.
He made this comment after East Sepik provincial law and order committee chairman Timothy Wani criticised Commissioner Tom Kulunga for appointing a new provincial police commander.
Kulunga appointed Chief Supt Joe Poma to replace Snr Insp Vincent Pokas. 
Andrews said Wani’s comments yesterday were “absurd, distasteful, and lacks understanding and knowledge of how the constabulary works”.
“Wani is obviously out of touch with changes happening at the national level.
“While the legitimacy of the prime ministership is being pursued in court, Kulunga was allowed by the court to perform the roles and responsibilities of the police commissioner,” he said.
“It is the commissioner’s discretion and prerogative under the Police Force Act to appoint or transfer officers.”
He said the people of East Sepik should be happy that Poma had been appointed to head the force in the province because he was “a highly professional officer whose appointment was based on merit”.