Tuesday 8 September 2020
Police Commissioner David Manning has condemned the attack on Inspector Wane and vowed that everyone involved will be arrested and charged.
A policeman attached to the Police Dog Unit and a civilian accessed the home of Inspector Robert Wane at the Gerehu Police Barracks in the National Capital District and discharged rounds from a high powered rifle.
Inspector Wane, the Officer in Charge of the Policing the Police Task Force Team was not at home during the attack.
Commissioner Manning said, “This is unbecoming. These people who carried out the attack are criminals. We will investigate and ensure that all who were involved in the attack, either directly or indirectly, will be rounded up and dealt with. We will show them no mercy.
“I will be the first Commissioner of Police to admit that there are criminals in uniform in the police force and I am committed to exposing and disposing them.
“They have continuously displayed a total loss of basic moral values. They do not respect the laws. They do not have any sense of duty, commitment or loyalty and act as if they are a law unto themselves. Their free reign ends now.
“I am ever more committed to my “one strike you’re out policy”. Further, I intend to criminalise certain disciplinary offences within the Constabulary’s disciplinary process to effectively deal with unacceptable criminal behaviors by members of the police force.
“I will hold Internal Affairs Units within each command and all provincial and divisional police commanders personally responsible to ensure there is proper supervision and command and control so that our men and women nationwide are held accountable for their actions or inactions.”
Commissioner Manning has directed the standing down of all police reservists nationwide, effective by September 15, 2020. The exceptions to this directive are members of the reserve branch who are engaged under a Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement with respective organisations.
The police reservists are expected to return all police issued items including uniforms, radios, firearms and ammunition by Monday 14 September.
“Anyone caught with these items after 14 September will be charged with impersonation or in possession of police issued items,” Mr Manning said.
He said the decision to stand down the reservists was made following widespread abuse by members of the reserve branch. Regular members also took advantage of the presence of reserve policemen and did not turn up to work as well.
“Whilst the reservists are being stood down the various commands will take stock of their manpower needs. Any gaps will be identified and the former reservists as well as new interested citizens can apply to be considered,” Commissioner Manning said.
Media contact: Chief Superintendent Dominic D. Kakas, BEM, DPS
COVID-19 Media & Public Information Joint Agency Task Force
Mobile: 75430557 :Email: ddkakas@gmail.com