Stay off Drugs, says IGP to FPU and Recruits

 

 
Stay off Drugs, says IGP to FPU and Recruits

By: Kembay

Sierra Leone Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy (SILEA), Hastings Campus, Friday 18 November, 2022.

 Addressing both the Formed Police Unit (FPU) and the recruits, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr.William Fayia Sellu has placed emphasis on zero tolerance for drugs in the SLP. 

In a stern warning, the Chief Executive Officer of the SLP noted that, the day any of them is caught with drugs, that very day he or she will leave, there is no compromise to that.

Medically, drugs last in urine for two months, so the Police Chief therefore informed them that there is going to be a spontaneous drugs test.

To the FPU, he disclosed that while they await the final stage of assessment, they would be deployed in various areas within the city to help police the festive season. 

With medical underway, he reminded them that they still have not completed the requirements that would qualify them for the Peacekeeping mission. 

"You are 270 here and we need 160, which means, 110, have to be dropped" said IGP Sellu; stating that the festive season, special duties would also be used as an additional assessment to the medical. 

If they must go out there to represent the SLP, he said they must first prove their commitment and loyalty to the force during the one month special duties.

He urged them to take advantage of the special duties and not rely on influence, which, he said, will never work.

Sierra Leone, he said, is on record as a country that performs extremely well in Peacekeeping missions, reason being her experience in receiving the highest Peacekeepers during her crisis. 

"Today, our Individual Police Officers (IPOs,) and Formed Police Unit (FPU) stand out to be contingents that perform extremely well in Peacekeeping missions" he concluded.

To the recruits, the Police Chief asked that they stay strong, continue to be dedicated and committed to whatever they are taught. 

He cautioned them to take the training very serious as it involves weapons. 

"This is the time you need to concentrate and forget about all other things" he said.

The Police, according to IGP Sellu, has different rules and the first is the standing order at the training school.

"This school has its own regulations that you must comply with, we don't mix matters, when you are not fit, we take you out" he said, recalling that they all passed through same and therefore admonished them to respect their instructors.

At the completion of their training, he informed them that they would be passing out as Operational Support Division (OSD) Personnel which is the paramilitary wing of the SLP.