By Alhaji Haruna Sani
The Complaints, Discipline, and Internal Investigation Department (CDIID) of the Sierra Leone Police disciplined 915 officers between January and December 2024, according to the Director of Professional Standard Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Francis Hazelei.
During the department’s weekly press briefing at their George Street headquarters in Freetown, AIG Hazelei provided a detailed breakdown of the disciplinary measures taken in year 2024.
Among the 915 cases, 41 officers were dismissed, 198 were suspended, 5 were demoted, and 42 were recommended for dismissal. Additionally, 34 officers faced restitution, 153 were placed on corrective training, and 198 received warning letters. Other punishments included legal advice and physical fitness exercises.
The data was disaggregated across eight areas, including Police Headquarters in Freetown, North-East, North-West, Freetown-East, Freetown-West, Eastern, and Southern regions. Police Headquarters in Freetown recorded the highest number of offenses among officers.
AIG Sahr Yomba Senesie, Director of Training, also briefed the media on the progress made in professional training for police personnel. He revealed that 1,194 officers benefited from 27 local training programs, while 52 personnel received international training in key areas such as traffic management, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding. In total, 26 international training sessions were conducted.
AIG Senesie emphasized the meticulous process used to select officers for training, highlighting that recommendations from police commanders and individual merit played a significant role. He said the training is part of the department’s effort to transition the Sierra Leone Police from a “force” to a “service,” with a focus on building professionalism and enhancing public trust.
