March 3, 2021
By: James Kamara-Manneh
“Aaaa E don bit am, lok way den hibam na gron, lazy man Police…he has been beaten, floored, lazy Police officer… These were the humiliating words of bystanders showcased on social media.
It is sad to witness a scene where a Police officer is assaulted and his uniform is torn in the process in public glare.
Frankly enough, such a scene warrants laughter due to the expectations that our officers should be well trained in terms of physical combats. Sadly, this is embarrassing to our country not the individual.
My attention was drawn to a video on social media where an altercation ensued between an SLP and taxi driver. Watching that clip I felt my heart pierced. As the argument continues without any remorse, regret or even an act of timidity by driver who landed a heavy slap and solid punch in the face of a Sierra Leone Police personnel. From what I saw people around were cheering the winner as if it was a wrestling match and those that were in the vehicle with a Guinean registered plate were yelling “beat am beat am na so den tan (beat him that’s their usual habit)”.
What struck the most was that this driver plies between Sierra Leone and Guinea border and that full-blooded Sierra Leoneans were present at the scene and encouraging a foreign driver to beat up your own country man…..what a shame!
Another experience was when a taxi driver at Lumley, Freetown refused to be halted by Police traffic officers, due to enthusiasm for enforcement of traffic laws the Police had to use force for him to park off the main road. The driver refused and upon that the Police took to his heels held on to the driver’s window while the car was in motion, as his was tumbling to have some grip on himself nobody came to his aid. The driver drove off and laughter filled the air.
Within Freetown was another incident of similar nature. Under the scorching sun a Police officer tried to arrest a motor bike rider who was illegally plying within the central business district. The police held on the bike, within few seconds the rider sped his bike and the Police grabbed it, struggling he fell and sustained some bruises.
I mentioned these experiences for readers to get a glimpse of what actually our Police officers who are carriers of the nation’s coat of arm are going through. Having a country’s coat of arm means you are have taken oath to guide the image of a particular state, therefore if they cannot be respected as individual, respect the country’s emblem.
History tells us that the coat of arm for Sierra Leone was developed by the Collaged of Arms in 1960. The shield on the arms depicts a lion beneath a zigzag border, representing the lion mountain, after which the country was named. It also shows three torches which are meant to symbolize peace and dignity. At the base a wavy bars depicting the sea. The supporters of the shield are lions, similar to those on the colonial badge. The three main colors from the shield-green, white and blue were used to form the flag. The green represents agricultural and natural resources, the blue represents the harbor of Freetown and the white represents peace and justice.
For any nation to be attracted to foreign investments or investors, they should be convinced that relative peace is existing. There would be no development where there are political struggles, war or revolts etc. Sierra Leone today is experiencing that peace which we have fought over decades, and this writer is safe to say the Police played active role in attaining it.
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) is performing specialized law enforcement duties as state police agencies. Amongst the many duties is to save lives and properties by enforcing the laws that is enshrined in our Law books. Especially in this part of the world bringing sanity means people will experience discomforts, sometimes violation of your rights.
It is no more a surprise for such mishaps in our land but that does not mean citizens should engage in any form of embarrassing security personnel in their uniforms. When a security officer is robed in the nation’s coat of arm it means he or she is carrying the face of the country along, equally so if we are purporting to love and respect our land; such should be reciprocated to our gallant men and women who have vouched to lay their precious life on our behalf.
However, many are with the notion that there is need for them to be more professional in terms of skills to investigate serious crimes, handle accident scenes and serve as expert witnesses.
The Colony of Freetown was set up in 1808 as a settlement for freed slaves, with a Police force whose authority was restricted solely to the city limits of the colony itself. By 1889 colonial authority had been extended to the provinces. Police authority was also extended to these areas and performed largely paramilitary duties as opposed to the civil police back in the colony. The force at this point became known as the West African Frontier Force.
A Royal Gazette of October 1894 established the Sierra Leone Police Force. Following independence in April 1961, the Sierra Leone Parliament passed the Police Act of 1964 to consolidate and amend the law relating to the organization, discipline, powers and duties of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP).
Therefore, it is the responsibility of all Sierra Leoneans to always look for the good side in our “force for good, SLP.” When respect is shown to them, by extension we are respecting the land which we call our own- the land that is shielded with the national motto: “UNITY, FREEDOM, JUSTICE”.