The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Johnston Busingye, yesterday, conferred upon the rank of ‘Police Constable’ to 892 police men and women after completing a nine-month course at the Police Training School (PTS) Gishari in Rwamagana District.
The graduates who passed out after undergoing the Basic Police Course include 160 women.
Minister Busingye said that such training is an indication of the government commitment and police in particular to professionalise the force, take services closer to the people and ensure that public safety and security is guaranteed at all times.
"Rwanda National Police has a mandate and training is one of the best ways to ensure that the law is respected and offenders are brought to justice. Knowledge and skills-based policing guarantees professionalism and service excellence," Minister Busingye said.
"You have been trained and today you have officially taken up your policing duties that require you to be exemplary, support government development programmes in areas of your respective deployment and be in compliance with the law," the Minister said, urging them to continue to sustain the force's brand of working with the people to improve their social welfare through various human security activities.
He reminded police officers that members of the public have the right to complain whenever they are given poor services via social media or in other forms, urging members of the police force to be accountable to the public.
"Always bear in mind that you are custodians of the laws, you are not above laws but laws guide you, prioritise accountability and explain to the public what you want them to do, the reason you want it and what the law stipulates about it,” he said
Training, he said, is continuous but added that this goes with acquiring advanced equipment for police to keep up with the evolving policing landscape and to always be ahead of criminals that take advantage of technological advancement.
"The level of development that Rwanda aspires to achieve is hinged on the people and their security," Minister Busingye said, calling for further efforts to fight all sorts of injustice and corruption in particular.
The Commandant of PTS, Commissioner of Police Vianney Nshimiyimana, said that the officers observed high standard of discipline, respect, commitment and dedication during the entire nine-month course, which made them professional officers ready to take up their policing duties.
"You were trained in Police duties and responsibilities, community policing, drills, peacekeeping, law, martial art and shooting, among others; these skills should guide you to professionally execute your duties remembering that you have been trained to serve the people," the commandant said.
Police Constable Cynthia Ingabire, who emerged the third overall student, said; "I am young and energetic ready to join hands with brothers and sisters to ensure safety and security of our country."
She added: "I spent nine months on training and successfully completed the course, being a woman doesn't mean that you're not capable. We went through the same training with our brothers, so women should break that inferiority complex, join the police and serve their country."
Present at the pass-out ceremony was also the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Emmanuel K. Gasana, the Governor of the Eastern Province Fred Mufulukye and the Deputy IGP in charge of Administration and Personnel Juvenal Marizamunda, among others.