More FBI Training to be Expected for Fijian Police
‘The FBI was reviewing their current processes of delivering training opportunities to be better suited to the policing needs of the Pacific region.’
The Federal Bureau of Investigations Legal Attaché Thomas Shultz held discussions in Suva, with the Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu and senior officers who attended the FBI National Academy based at Quantico, Virginia in the United States.
ACP Tudravu said the officers who had undergone training at the Academy are now holding senior posts which are a testament to the high standard of training offered by the FBI.
Since the early 1990s, the Fijian Police Force has been given an opportunity to send an officer to study at the prestigious FBI National Academy every four years. Graduates include the Chief of Administration Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Itendra Nair, Chief of Intelligence and Investigations ACP Vakacegu Toduadua, Director Operations SSP Abdul Khan and Director Criminal Investigations Department SSP Seru Neiko.
Mr Shultz said the FBI was reviewing their current processes of delivering training opportunities to be better suited to the policing needs of the Pacific region.
“Fiji is definitely a leader in the Pacific and it has been an honour to have your officers from Fiji train with us at the FBI Academy”. “We will be convening a meeting in Hawaii
with our foreign partners to better plan what we are going to do as we need to be more aware of all who are reaching out to assist law enforcement and what they are offering, and coordinate better from our side”. Mr Shultz said the FBI was committed to working with Pacific Police Commissioners in developing law enforcement capabilities.
“The Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police are doing great in terms of having a mechanism where foreign partners can come together through one body for training development purposes and we want to be able to learn from you on how the FBI can be more effective in supporting you”.
More opportunities for specialised training on anti-narcotics were also discussed.
Fijian officers have undergone specialised training conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration as well as working closely with the U.S Embassy Regional Security Office based in Suva. Mr Shultz assured the Assistant Commissioner of the FBI’s support in Fiji’s and the Pacific’s war on drugs.