By- Gibao Brima

It was a day of joy and happiness as the faces of the 1,000 police recruits were beaming with smiles having undergone intensify training in police routine duties, criminal law, ethics, discipline, gender, human rights and some aspect of civic education among others.

In his address to participants and stakeholders, the youngest and dynamic commandant ever in the history of the Sierra Leone police to have taken up the commandant position at the Sierra Leone Peace Keeping and Law Enforcement Academy, Hastings campus, Commissioner Allieu Jalloh thanked all invited stakeholders especially the Honourable Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and First Lady Fatima Maada Bio for honouring their invitation for the passing out.

Commandant Allieu Jalloh told participants and stakeholders present that the total number of police recruits is 1,000 comprising 758 males and 242 females, adding that the training was dominated by skills at Arm Lessons which covered public order management, weapon handling and field tactics in addition to modules that include police Routine Duties, Introduction to Criminal Law, Ethics, Discipline, Gender, Human Rights, liter Agency Collaboration and some aspect of Civic Education.

He said that the training was hard, but said the officers were able to endure as they were up to the scale, adding that their endurance, determination can help them to take up the task in defense of their country.

Commandant Allieu Jalloh in his wisdom quoted two great writers, Abraham Blumbery and Arthur Nether Hotter “ The Ambivalence force” which says “The great bulk of police time is devoted to service for people in trouble but the hostility towards the police is greater than ever.” He said the statement is more applicable today than it was 47 years ago when it was written by the Authors as the reason being is that citizens witnessed the massacre of police officers in Sierra Leone during the August 10 riot.

Commandant Jalloh said the training and skills must be up scaled because the endurance, determination will help police personnel to carry out their duties since they have been equipped with the right skills and knowledge to act appropriately and decisively.

He admonished the 1,000 police recruits to be brave in the face of danger and to be steadfast in the face of uncertainty, adding that there is no turning back and they should never allow to be intimated by terror tactics which he said is their calling.

He added that the recruited officers must do their work diligently without any fear or favour while stating that the use of force should be the last resort as it is guided by the rules of engagement and the principal of plan.

Commandant Jalloh furthered that to ensure that the force used is proportionate to the means employed by the target.

He called on the 1,000 recruits to be lawful, necessary and they must be accountable for their actions by remaining open to administrative and public criticism, adding that they have right to self defence and defense of their mandate to save lives and properties which they are determined and motivated to do so with humility.