‘Any Police caught accepting bribe will be dismissed’ -AIG Al Sheik Kamara warns

By Elkass I. L.Sannoh

The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations, Al-Sheik Kamara, has in a press briefing held yesterday at Police Headquarters, at George Street in Freetown, told journalists that nobody should influence or try to influence a Police officer while he or she was executing his or her duties, stressing that Police officer caught accepting a bribe would be dismissed from the Force.

He said as an institution they should not be trumpeting their own good work but they rely on the media to propagate it as the public , which they constitutionally serve, cherished talking about the bad side of the Police. 

He disclosed that irrespective of the accusations that were levied against them daily, they were not ready to develop any hate because their duty was to protect the lives and properties of the people of Sierra Leone.

He maintained that they were readily prepared to stand tall above the challenges they were faced with and equate themselves to international police standards.

He explained that the weapons which were imported for them were non lethal and meant to be used for normal operations operations.

Mr. Kamara observed that the rampant shootings by Police personnel in recent times were most worrisome but he assured Sierra Leoneans that as a responsible institution they have put the situation under control.

Responding to the shooting at Earl Street, off Circular Road in Freetown on Monday, July 9, the Head of the Operational Support Division, Chief Superintendent of Police Karrow Kamara explained that a Military Corporal named Kamara requested the assistance of some Police officers who were along Circular Road regarding some young men who were smoking marijuna around the said Street.

He said when the two OSD Officers and a woman Police officer went to effect an arrest the youths were reported to have put up a stiff resistance which according to him, resulted in the officer shooting on the floor in order to disperse the crowd.

“Nobody was shot.  The Police who allegedly shot and the soldier were under custody for investigation,”  Mr. Conteh said.

In his comments, the newly appointed Assistant Inspector General of Police, Kalia E. Sesay, thanked the Inspector General of Police, Francis Alieu Munu for his appointment while on peace keeping mission with UNAMID in Darfur, Sudan.

He revealed that the Sierra Leone Police has made enormous strides in the International realm which was why he became the Police Sector Commander in Darfur for three years, with Police Officers of 20 nations under his command.

He revealed that because of the confidence reposed in the Sierra Leone Police, four senior officers have been elevated to very senior positions in the United Nations.

He further explained that their institution has partnered very well with relevant International bodies like Kaitec of Ghana, Swedish Police and the Canadian International Police to impart the required training that will lift the Sierra Leone Police to the highest height in policing.