19 policemen arrested and 20 fired in 2016

Police Commissioner Agnes Daniel on Thursday revealed that 19 policemen were arrested and that 20 were given the boot in 2016. She pointed out that there has been a 72% increase in the number of police officers who were arrested in 2016. “One must keep in mind that police work has many challenges and temptations,” said the police commissioner who added that the police force’s image is sensitive to ‘damage’. She pointed out that up until mid December the Internal Affairs Department at the Police Force Suriname (KPS) had received 225 reports and 139 dossiers. She also pointed out that there had been a significant drop in the number of reports but that the number of dossiers rose with at least 85%. “In 2016 more cases against policemen were investigated than in 2015. In 2015 detectives from Internal Affairs investigated 289 cases and in 2016 they investigated 348. She pointed out that officials mainly gave a fine to policemen who had crossed the line. “123 policemen were given a fine which is reportedly 35% of all cases. 20 policemen were kicked from the force and 81 were suspended. 67 policemen were reprimanded while 14 were demoted. Officials also had a serious talk with 25 policemen. 187 cases were registered at the Personnel Affairs Investigations Department. 70 of these cases are still being investigated.