Sar Kheng calls on populace to join police
AT A Monday meeting to review the Police Academy of Cambodia’s achievements between 2015 and 2019 and analyse cases of misconduct involving officers, Minister of Interior Sar Kheng called on citizens to apply to the academy as trainees.
He said all potential trainees must be examined first, and ordered police units to value and respect those who graduate.
He chaired the meeting on Monday, which analysed the implementation of the fiveyear strategic plan for 20152019.
Police Academy of Cambodia director Seng Phally said during the five years, the academy prepared 209 training courses which were attended by 20,996 trainees. On average the academy prepared 42 training courses a year with an average of 4,200 students.
Besides highlighting the academy’s many achievements, Phally shed light on the misconduct of police officials. He said offending officials had been educated and were made to sign contracts agreeing to cease their misconduct. They were also removed from their positions and fired from the police force.
Phally did not reveal the number of officials who had committed wrongdoing.
Sar Kheng lauded the academy’s achievements, especially the increase in domestic training courses and reduction in overseas training.
He said after completing the training course, police officials could defend territorial integrity, maintain social security and order, and effectively serve the public. They will have the ethics and professional means to carry out their work, Sar Kheng said.
In the past, officials had been equipped with skills but they had no moral compass, he said. They would commit offences after their training.
“At times they would use their skills to fleece people. Those who uphold high standards, high morality, deep knowledge and underwent training must be held as examples to break free of the old mindset,” Sar Kheng said.
If workers aren’t developing and learning new skills, he said they could cause disruption in the workplace. A new focus will also be put on effective training to enable more officers to multitask.
The interior minister referenced a case of a Phnom Penh police officer who committed fraud and trafficked drugs.
He was fired but he later applied to serve as an officer again. He passed the Police Academy of Cambodia examination, but Prime Minister Hun Sen knew about the incident, leading to the officer being removed again from the force.
Sar Kheng encouraged qualified candidates to serve in local-level police forces due their deeper knowledge of their hometowns. They can easily work with residents and manage local areas, he said.
Democratic Institute of Cambodia director Pa Chanroeun said on Monday that the Kingdom is peaceful and safe, thanks to the protection of the police and armed forces.
Chanroeun acknowledge that though armed forces can work effectively, some lack moral fibre.
Others do not seem to fully grasp the principles of democracy and human rights, he said. Their use of power can at times overstep boundaries and lead to acts of corruption.
“I want to see the armed forces, especially the police, making friends with the people. Our citizens are more afraid of the authorities than they are of the law.
“If they establish close relat ions, I believe police forces will gain admiration from t he citizens. When citizens respect the police, more people will obey t he law,” Chanroeun said.