Who is more power ful in the police system, a Station Duty Officer (SDO), a mere Sub Inspector or a Senior Superintendent of Police?
At least in the Nugegoda Police Division, it seems to be the former. They do not work the way the century old Police norms require.
One night early this week, an accident victim sought the help of the SSP. The conscientious man immediately asked the Mirihana Police to respond by sending a traffic cop to the scene - just four hundred metres away from the station.
For well over 95 minutes, there was no response. The victim troubled the SSP again. Though he was ready to retire to bed, he took time off to tell his men, this time to walk if there was no vehicle.
Another half an hour later, an Isuzu trooper load of cops arrived at the scene. The SI who led them and the driver began berating the victim for contacting the SSP. The language used is not what the Police Department preaches but practices with skill on criminals and kasippu mudalalis. It did not end there.
At the Police Station, to add insult to injury, the SDO himself joined in the barrage.
He not only found fault with the victim for the “Offence” of contacting the SSP but added that the SSP does not know what was going on at the Police Station.
That was a bombshell!! The Mirihana Police is located cheek by jowl with the SSP’s newly opened office.
Of course, there is a point in what the SDO said. There are 19 motor cycles (leave alone the other vehicles) assigned to the Mirihana Police. None seems to be available at night.
Are they parked at the homes of the cops who use them? Some cops claim they are assigned to favourites of the big bosses.
It ultimately took the affable DIG, Indra de Silva, to sort things out, some three hours and ten minutes after the accident. Well, it was all over a small accident, one in which lives were not at stake.
Imagine if it was a murder, mayhem or a terrorist attack of a major proportion? There are many government leaders, judges, lawyers and other VIPs who live in the Mirihana Police area. Can they confidently expect the Police to respond at times of a crisis?
What of the ordinary citizen who does not know anyone in high places ?
A three wheeler driver who was a by-stander remarked “Sir, these are days when you must resolve problems yourselves and avoid stepping into a Police Station”.
Was he expressing what may be a widely accepted public sentiment today? It was only two weeks ago that Vice Sqaud at Mirihana Police was disbanded.
The rot seems to be continuing . Otherwise how could a premier Police Station like Mirihana was left in the hands of a group of khakied thugs in the night? Who is right, the SDO or the SSP?
You should find the answers, Mr. IGP, if you are keen to ensure the public receive a decent deal from the Police.
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