Odahiekwu Ogunde, Yenagoa
Newly-deployed Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State, Mike Okoli, has resumed duty with a strong resolve to establish a special squad that will promptly respond and deal with violent crimes and social miscreants.
Okoli, who made the assertion in his maiden press briefing on Friday at Police Officers Mess, Yenagoa, said the command would strive to ensure that crime does not take place.
He noted that if crime does occur, operatives would respond promptly, pursue the hoodlums, subdue them and apprehend them to face the law.
Okoli said he had been briefed by his management team on the status of security in the state, emphasising that he would key into the positive aspects of the existing security architecture to strengthen and confront crimes in the state.
He also said the command would implement fully the vision of the IGP Mohammed Adamu on community policing, stressing that the people would be made to participate and play fundamental roles in the provision of security in the state.
He stated that his method of policing would be all-inclusive and transparent, explaining that the idea and the spirit of community policing is to bring policing back to the people.
Okoli said, “Policing in the state shall be intelligence-driven. The command under my watch will run an open door policy. We shall be open to receive complaints from members of the public.
“The command under my watch will exhibit and uphold human rights and be civil to members of the public. I am today sending a stern warning to criminal elements in the state to relocate before we come hard on them. In fact, they have no options.”
The police commissioner pledged to partner the press, non-governmental organisations and other sister security agencies to ensure safety of lives and property in the state.
He said the operational and crime fighting outfits of the command (the Police Mobile Force, Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Anti-Cult team, State Criminal Investigation Department, Doo Akpo, Puff Adder, EOD etc.) shall be closely monitored and supervised.
He said the command would develop new crime fighting and prevention strategies motivated to achieve desired results.
He solicited the support and cooperation of members of the public in their efforts to flush out criminals from the state in the spirit of community policing.