The Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police, Mr. William Fayia Sellu on Friday 18th November 2022, at the Sierra Leone Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy has declared zero tolerance for harmful and illegal drugs in the country.
The Police Chief made this declaration while 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 Sierra Leone Police force.
In a stern warning, the Inspector General of Police noted that, “the day anyone of you is caught with drugs, that will be the end of your service in the force”. He further admonished that there is no compromise to that.
Medically, drugs last in urine for two months, so the Police Chief informed them that there will going to be a spontaneous drugs test on all police officers.
To the Formed Police Unit, 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 further that, for the festive season special duties would also be used as an additional assessment to their medical test.
If they must go out there to represent the Sierra Leone Police, he said that, 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 admonished.
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 warned, 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 Sierra Leone Police.
