Over 5,500 police officers graduated yesterday in preparation for the upcoming referendum.
6,332 police recruits undertook intensive training for 11 months at Dr. John Garang’s Unified Police Training Centre in Juba and 5,590 were graduated yesterday by GoSS President, Bakhita Radio reported.Salva Kiir Mayardit told the graduates that they faced enormous challenges to protect the civil population across the region.
President Kiir said the main function of the police force was to enforce law and order among civilians and not to harass people.
He appealed to the police force to protect the lives and property of civilians.
President Kiir warned the new police officers against charging track drivers illegal fees or fines.
He said the main role of the police was to check the contents and particulars of the vehicles and not to collect money from drivers.
President Kiir asked the new police women and men to denounce senior officers who engage in illegal money collection.
Out of 5,590 graduates 295 were female.
The graduates were trained on riot discharging, VIP protection and arrest of suspected criminals by specialists from UNMIS Police, and Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia.