Police interdict ‘insulting’ cop

The police administration have interdicted the police officer alleged to have insulted a deputy Minister for Interior, Kobby Acheampong.

According to the minister, an infuriated police officer called him a “stupid” man after he had challenged the inappropriate checkpoint mounted by police on the Accra-Cape Coast road over the weekend. He reported the alleged misconduct to the Inspector General of Police, and the police officers involved were subsequently hauled to the Police Headquarters in Accra.

Acting Director of Police Public Affairs, DSP Cephas Arthur confirmed to Joy News Tuesday that the officer, whose name he gave as Lance Corporal Henry Addison, has been interdicted for “insulting a member of the public”, adding “the police must be expected to be civil to members of the public” .

He assured: “Further investigations are going to be conducted, after which his case would be referred to an adjudicating officer to try him.”

Lance Corporal Henry Addison, Mr Arthur said, is entitled to a lawyer of his choice if he feels he is not being treated fairly by the police administration.

He said the remaining seven have been asked by the police administration to go on their “normal duties” and would be called as and when necessary in the course of the investigations.

Asked if any member of the public would be treated with the same kind of swiftness the administration adopted in handling this particular case, DSP Arthur maintained the police justice system is not weak and discriminatory.

“[Police misconduct] is exactly a matter of concern; that is exactly what the police administration is even talking about; as part of our image cleansing campaign we have been trumpeting it all over that anybody who has got concerns with the police should make complaints to Police Intelligence and Professional Standards Bureau.”

He said many complaints against police officers have swiftly been investigated and actions taken against those found culpable.

DSP Arthur could not confirm or deny the status of the faulty speed gun as alleged by the minister. He however said “it would be part of the further investigations that would be conducted”.