Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu has issued a firm warning to 185 new police recruits that those unable to meet the Fiji Police Force’s standards of discipline will not make it through their six-month training.
Opening the Batch 70 Basic Recruit Course at the Fiji Police Academy yesterday, Mr Tudravu stressed that discipline would be non-negotiable throughout the training.
“If you cannot toe the line, the gates remain open, and you have seen that I have been serious about this from the moment you marched in,” Mr Tudravu told the recruits.
“Let’s get rid of the bad apples and ensure only the cream of the crop will march out at the end of the six months.”
The Commissioner said he expected the best from the recruits and wanted future officers who were physically and mentally capable of dealing with the challenges they would encounter on the frontline.
He reminded them that policing was not simply about acquiring technical knowledge and skills, but also about developing character, leadership and the right attitude towards the communities they would serve.
“Your training here is not just about acquiring policing knowledge and skills, but also about developing the character, leadership qualities, and community-focused mindset required to serve the people of Fiji and Tuvalu effectively,” he said.
Mr Tudravu also welcomed 14 recruits from Tuvalu and encouraged them to regard the Fiji Police Academy as their home during the training period.
He told the recruits their conduct would be expected to reflect the standards of the organisation both on and off duty.
“This means your every action, your every being, from the way you talk to people, on or off duty, the way you treat your work, must always be aligned to the organizational mission and vision,” Mr Tudravu said.
“Anything less is a disservice to your oath, the police uniform and organization.”
The six-month training for Batch 70 is scheduled to conclude on February 12, 2027.
