Indiscipline in the security agencies is an anomaly we should not in any way countenance. Any semblance of insubordination in any department of our national security should be stemmed immediately and the sources chopped off from the system with alacrity.
The strict application of the rules of the colours and the barracks should be the order when the age-old discipline in the security agencies is breached in any form.
The reasons for recruits and cadets being brought up to take orders and not to ask questions is for the purpose of instilling in them discipline, an important attribute in security arrangement.
From the drill square to the desks, everything is about taking orders and not asking questions, let alone challenging these when they are issued.
Firing only, when ordered to do so, and moving only when ordered to do so, are parts of the lives of soldiers and police officers without which the goals of defending the territorial integrity and the enforcement of the laws of any given country would not be achieved.
When therefore, a police officer in the full glare of the public, visits rudeness on his superior officer, the act should not be only condemned, those behind it should be showed the exit to protect the system from the contagion of indiscipline.
We just cannot imagine a junior police officer as it is referred to in the military, “talking back” to a senior police officer and even refusing to hand over his firearm.
The Superintendent of Police who ordered the dismantling of the unauthorised motor check operation by the rude police officer acted appropriately. That is what is expected of an officer of his rank, who spots an illegality being perpetrated by anybody, be they civilians or uniformed personnel.
Unfortunately, as one of the stories in this issue has it that a police officer from the Formed Police Unity (FPU) had the effrontery to ask a senior police officer to meet him at the MTTD office.
To worsen the case, some of his colleagues reportedly threatened to end the life of the senior officer.
We have been told about the ordering of a probe into what ensued on the fateful day.
We are concerned about this melancholic development and demand that the probe be swift. Should it be established beyond reasonable doubt that the video represented what ensued on that day, those involved should be delisted from the Ghana Police Service.
Shouldn’t the Police Administration take another look at the rising level of unauthorised operations and also having personnel of units like FPU and other operation units, performing roles not strictly meant for them?
These anomalies must stop forthwith. An armed unruly cop is as dangerous as an armed robber.
We trust the Police Administration would wade into this matter. For us, it is beyond the regional command.