Police not worried about lawsuits
Sharon Mathala | Monday August 10, 2015 15:30
The police rather treat them as a learning stone.
Speaking at the just ended Police Day celebrations, the BPS spokesperson, Christopher Mbulawa told The Monitor that they are aware of the increasing number of cases against the police but noted that they use such cases to learn and improve from them.
“We do get civilians and even officers dragging the police service to court, we do not take it as if we are failing somehow, it only just goes to put a rubber stamp on how a democratic nation we are,” said Mbulawa.
“The police do not take it as a bad thing. We actually use them as learning curbs. We use such cases as case studies to better improve the service, to better service Batswana,” said Mbulawa.
When quizzed as to what the majority cases against the police are based on the police spokesperson said: “It varies really, but the most common one is those people who complain on the way we execute our arrests and investigations.
One thing they should understand is that at times a police officer is tasked with making a decision within a split second. At times the move the officer made at that particular moment could have somehow been different had they had time to think over it, it is a really difficult task really, it is not easy,” said Mbulawa.
Some of the cases before the courts are that of a constable, who wants BPS to award him promotion, which has eluded him after 23 years of continuous service. Another case was launched by the family of missing Olefile Momphitlhi who allegedly disappeared in police custody. The police commissioner Keabetswe Makgophe is one of those who have stood witness in the case before the Lobatse High Court.
All these aside, this Saturday the men and women in blue filled the Lobatse Stadium to celebrate 131 years of existence. Amongst the activities for day was camel display, tug of war, obstacle challenge, calisthenics as well as athletics, both the young and the old thronged the stadium to witness first hand.
At the celebrations, The Monitor caught up with eight-year-old, Thabiso Morweesi who said that it was his second time to attend the Police Day.
“I came here again last year, it is fun. I got to see the police helicopter, and how they catch thieves. It was interesting and I had a fun time with my friends,” he said breathlessly.