Disbanding the NCDC Police Unit a Knee Jerk reaction

National Capital District Commision (NCDC) Deputy City Manager and Controller of the NCD Buai Ban, Honk Kiap has described the disbanding of the NCDC Police Reserve unit as a Knee Jerk reaction of the Police Commissioner Geoffrey Vaki.
Mr. Kiap is horrified that the decision to disband the unit is relayed to the NCDC Management through the media and not by way of a formal notification from Mr Vaki.
“Where is the courtesy from the police hierarchy to formally advise us of the decision to disband the NCDC Reserve unit?” Mr Kiap demanded. “We prefer to be formally advised on the matter and following the proper protocols than be informed through a third party.”
As reported in the media, Mr Vaki decided on disbanding the unit on allegations of the unit’s involvement in the Hanubada shooting. The move by the Police Commissioner is seen by Mr Kiap as an inconclusive attempt by the police hierarchy to put the blame squarely on the NCDC Reserve personal.
At a recent media conference on the Hanubada Shooting, Mr. Kiap clarified that it was premature to be pointing fingers at the NCDC Reserve unit.
“Right now it’s a police matter. Until such time the findings are revealed and those implicated identified and referred accordingly we do not know who is involved.”
Today Mr Kiap said,” I feel the Police Commissioner has acted prematurely to come up with such a rushed decision to disband the unit which is innocent until proven guilty.”
He reiterated the position of the NCDC relating to the alleged involvement of the NCDC Reserve officers in the Hanuabada shooting “if members of the NCDC Reserve Unit were involved in that incident at Hanuabada village, we will take appropriate actions on those involved with the relevant penalties including appropriate compensation to the victims.”
“I am just hoping that the decision on the NCDC Reserve unit is not an attempt to pervert the proper course of the investigation and the consequential justice desired by the families of the deceased and Hanuabada village as a whole,” Mr Kiap said.
The NCDC Reserve Police Unit was set up in 2013 through a Memorandum of Agreement with the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) with the primary objective to enforce its municipal laws through appropriate police training by the RPNGC.
Included in the laws to be enforced was the NCD Betelnut Control Law of 2013.
The agreement spells out the operational orders for all personnel of the unit in the execution of their policing duties in observation of their powers, discipline, police ethics and behaviour and the constitutional role and responsibility of police.
Mr Kiap’s call is strengthened by the relevant provision in the Agreement relating to the termination of the agreement where either party is required to give no less than 30 days notice in writing stating failures in fulfilling the objectives of the agreement.
“The establishment of the unit was a long process involving NCDC and the RPNGC and the least we expected was instant dismissal fuelled by emotions and allegations,” Mr Kiap said.
NCDC will announce its stand on the decision once it is formally notified by the Police Commissioner.