By: Audrey Raymonda John
The Complaints, Discipline and Internal Investigation Department CDIID of the Sierra Leone Police has dismissed 41 officers, 198 suspended, 5 demoted and 42 recommended for dismissal. This decision were taken between January and December 2024.
The Director of Professional Standards Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG Francis Hazelei provided a detailed breakdown of the disciplinary measures taken in year 2024 during a press briefing at the Sierra Leone Police headquarters George Street in Freetown Among the 915 cases
Additionally, thirty-four officers faced restitutions, one hundred and fifty-three were placed on corrective training and one hundred and ninety-eight received warning letters.
Others punishments included legal advice and physical fitness exercises.
The data was disaggregated across eight areas including police headquarters in Freetown North East, North west, Freetown East, Freetown West, eastern, and southern regions police headquarters in Freetown recorded the highest number of offenses among officers.
AIG Sahr Yomba Senesei, Director of Training briefed the media on the progress made in professional Training for police personnel he revealed that 1,194 officers benefited from twenty seven local training programs while fifty two personnel received international training in key areas such as traffic management conflict prevention and peace building in total twenty six international training sessions were conducted.
AIG Senesie emphasized the meticulous process used to select officers for training highlighting that recommendations from police commanders and individual merit played a significant role he said the training is part of the department effort to transition the Sierra Leone Police from a force to a service with a focus on building professionalism and enhancing public trust
The regional operations officer CSP Brima Bangura Freetown East said from last year to now the region has successfully conducted a lot or raids on ghettos at the same time lot of arrested was made from those that are selling Kush which they investigated and send them to the transnational organised crime unit TOCU for forensic analysis they are monitoring checks points and strategies locations within the regions which there personnel conducted a search from all vehicles upon intelligence they located two cannabis sativa farms was destroyed.
