Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki issued a directive yesterday afternoon to have members of the Special Services Division (SSD), pictured in uniform with alcohol in the Drum column of the Post Courier, identified and suspended from duty.
He has also ordered for the officers to be served Serious Disciplinary Offence Reports (SDORs) and transferred out of the SSD.
Vaki’s directives, which were issued to Acting Deputy Commissioner Operations Jim Andrews, say these actions must be implemented by Friday, 24th of October.
Mr Vaki said it appears that the director of the SSD was not coming down hard on ill-disciplined SSD members nationwide, despite his earlier directive for all commanders, provincial commanders and two metropolitan superintendents in Lae and Port Moresby to address ethical, dress and grooming standards, and discipline.
He described the report in the newspaper column, as “a testimony to a total decline in firm command and control.”
“Contrary to what critics have been saying, I am taking a zero tolerance attitude to corrupt, abusive and ill-disciplined policemen or women. Enough is enough, as I have stated.
“Whilst not making any excuses, I ask that critics be more reasonable and constructive as I have been in the job only five months. Prior to my appointment, for five years, I was fighting my case in the National Court.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I am very passionate about discipline. I will hold all commissioned officers, as well as non-commissioned officers, accountable for the actions of their subordinates,” Commissioner Vaki said.
