So, police officers who are involved in criminal activities do so because of personal choices rather than shortcomings in training, guidance or institutional support. That is the word from Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu.
He rejected suggestions that poor pay or inadequate ethics training within the Fiji Police Force are driving the rise in corruption cases involving officers, arguing that the force already has established systems, policies and procedures to guide conduct and uphold professional standards.
Now this is supposed to be clear-cut, don’t you think? If you want to be a police officer, then that means upholding the laws of the country. Full stop! That is the nature of the job. There can be no compromises. If you cannot handle that responsibility, then perhaps policing is not the profession for you. The question is how many people truly think that way from the outset.
As we said, it should really be a clear-cut situation. You have to be passionate about the work you do. If you believe your salary is not enough, then you should either strive for promotion within the force or consider opportunities elsewhere. Yet the issue of remuneration lingers. The rising cost of living is a reality, and it is only fair that discussions about police pay continue alongside expectations of professionalism.
Commissioner Tudravu said officers receive training throughout their careers and are expected to operate within established procedures, training directives and the laws governing police work.
Despite the safeguards, he stressed that accountability ultimately rests with each individual officer. His view is that the real issue is understanding why some officers choose to abandon the standards expected of them, despite receiving the same training, guidance and support as their colleagues. While declining to directly link salary levels with misconduct, he maintained that personal responsibility remains the deciding factor.
He pointed to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s recent address to new police recruits, which reinforced the importance of professionalism, integrity and ethical conduct as the foundation of policing.
Every police officer should know and live by the Police Code of Ethics. This is not a document studied during training and forgotten after graduation. It must become a way of life. Then there is the recruitment process.
Perhaps it is time to strengthen screening measures even further. Every recruit entering the Police Academy at Nasova should undergo rigorous assessments designed to identify not only physical ability and academic competence, but also honesty, integrity and strength of character.
The unfortunate reality is that some officers, despite completing all the required training, later find themselves facing serious questions about their conduct. That raises concerns about whether every individual entrusted with the badge truly possesses the values expected of a police officer.
We say selecting only the best will never be an easy task. Human character is not always obvious during recruitment. But that is precisely why continuous assessment, firm leadership and zero tolerance for misconduct are so important.
The public places a lot of trust in police officers. They are expected to protect lives, uphold the law and serve with fairness and courage. We say that trust must never be betrayed. Integrity is important, passion cannot fade with time, and, again, we say, the badge must never become a licence for abuse. We expect our officers to remain true to their calling every day they wear the uniform!
