Attacks on Police Officers Must Stop: Acting Commissioner Tudravu
‘We will not take threats against our officers lives lightly, and from January to September a number of our officers have been attacked while executing their duties’
Four people are in Police custody after allegedly assaulting and threatening Police officers in two separate cases.
This has prompted the Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu to issue a warning that such attacks will not be taken lightly.
Three youths are in custody at the Nadi Police Station after they threatened a patrol car team last night at Namotomoto.
The three suspects when warned to clear the area allegedly threatened the officers stating they would kill them in a similar way as to how their late comrade died in Lautoka last week.
A back up team was called in and the three were arrested and kept in custody at the Nadi Police Station.
In a separate case a Police officer was allegedly assaulted outside the Grantham Police Post while attending to a report of causing trouble. The suspect was a passenger in a taxi, which had stopped at the Community Post because the driver sought help with the suspect who was causing trouble.
The suspect when confronted and allegedly assaulted the Police officer whereby he sustained injuries. He was overpowered by another officer and taken into custody. Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu said the attacks on the officers who were simply conducting their duties to keep Fiji safe, must stop.
“Police officers put their lives on the line everyday and when one is injured or loses his/her life while duties, it impacts our service delivery, not to mention the pain and suffering it causes to the officers’ families,” he said.
“We will not take threats against our officers lives lightly, and from January to September a number of our officers have been attacked while executing their duties.
“Last week the death of one of our own has brought to the forefront the real threats confronting our officers who are simply doing their job”. Last week another officer was injured while manning a checkpoint in Nadi after the suspect allegedly refused to stop, and drove his vehicle directly towards the officer who sustained injuries to his leg.
The Acting Commissioner said in order for Police to effectively carry out their duties, police officers need everyone’s support.
“I understand at times we are criticised for the actions of a few of our officers and if there are incidents that we need to look into in terms of our services, let us know so our Internal Affairs team can investigate and discipline officers if necessary”.
“The actions of a few however does not truly and fairly reflect the hard work put in by thousands of other officers who are genuinely putting all efforts on the line to keep our communities safe and are doing so in often dangerous situations”.
Source: Police Media Cell