The Commander of the National Capital District and Central Province, Benjamin Turi, has called on police officers within his command to work closely with locals as the region enters a dry spell caused by El Niño.
While addressing Central Province police officers at Kwikila Station in Rigo, Central Province, on Friday, Commander Turi warned that as the dry spell continues, many food crops will wither, leaving families hungry and potentially driving some to theft. He noted that there could be a rise in opportunistic crimes, such as the theft of food crops from gardens, as the dry season progresses and resources like food and water become scarce.
“Such offenses can lead to loss of life and property, which police officers in the command must be prepared to address. We are not saying it will definitely happen, but it might, so everyone must be prepared. It is the responsibility of the police to ensure everyone lives peacefully, and the general public must also prepare so they do not resort to committing such crimes,” Turi said.
While addressing the police officers and community members gathered at Kwikila, Commander Turi also challenged the people of Rigo and Central Province as a whole not to sell their land, warning that doing so could lead to other social issues. In making this point, he referenced the land disputes and internal family conflicts currently faced by locals from Motu Koitabu.
Commander Turi, who was invited to the event by Central Provincial Police Commander Superintendent Joseph Salle, thanked him for hosting the parade. The event gave him his first opportunity to speak to Central Province officers since being promoted and confirmed to the rank of Commander. He also challenged the officers within the command to work ethically, noting that police officers are arrested, charged, and dismissed every year for misconduct.
He urged officers to put their families first when they report for duty, reminding them that doing wrong—whether on or off duty—directly impacts their households if they are suspended from the payroll or dismissed from the force.
Central Provincial Police Commander Supt. Joseph Salle also warned his officers to maintain ethical standards and to look after the assets provided by the department. He stated that when the department builds police accommodation, provides vehicles, issues uniforms, and supplies other policing essentials, they expect each officer to produce results.
Supt. Salle added that recent changes have been implemented within the command to ensure every officer performs and delivers results. During the parade at Kwikila, police stations across Central Province were also issued brush cutters to maintain their premises, along with new chairs for the stations. Leaders from the Central Provincial Government were also present at the parade.
