Efficient response to crime builds public trust – CP Gatete tells officers

Solving and preventing crimes in time and efficiently helps to promote justice and is very important in cementing trust and strong partnership between Rwanda National Police (RNP) and the public.

The message was delivered on June 5 by Commissioner of Police Cyprien Gatete, Commissioner for Reserve Police in RNP during the closure of a week-long field training exercise conducted by officers in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The exercise involved 68 officers, with 50 of them from CID,others were drawn from logistics, medical forensics and station police commanders from Kigali.

Under the code name: “The Red Bag”, was a simulation exercise for investigators in crime scene management and professional handling of serial killing case files.

In his remarks, Commissioner Gatete noted at the end of this exercise, that participants should be able to demonstrate a high level of coordinated investigation in protecting and handling crime scenes and ensure that professionalism is upheld in a manner that promotes public trust.

“It is terrible when a crime is committed and it is not investigated and prosecuted appropriately– and as you have witnessed in the past, RNP has built trust with citizens because it is efficient in responding to crimes. You should ensure that the training you have received cements that trust,” he told the participants.

“As a team, you should exhibit the skills you have acquired to manage cases involving serial killings and other serious crimes, as well as compile strong case files against suspects and complex crimes.”

He also urged them to maximize the training opportunity and fully understanding the force’s core values in order to perform their duties diligently and protect the people professionally.

The official closure of the course was also attended by the Commissioner for CID, Assistant Commissioner of Police Theos Badege among others senior officers – who witnessed a step-by-step simulated exercise by trainees – showing how to handle and respond to serious crimes and manage their scenes efficiently.