Ex-senior, Current Officers Chase Top Cop Position

Former senior police officers including a few still in the force have indicated their interest in the top cop position.

This includes former Acting Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu, former Police Chief of Operation Abdul Khan and Assistant Commissioner of Police Internal Affairs and Professional Standards Sakeo Ganivatu.

Yesterday, Prime Minister and Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) chair Sitiveni Rabuka said applications would be closing on September 30.

“I cannot release anything yet, applications are open, and we invite interested applicants to apply for the position,” Mr Rabuka said.

Also tipped for the top job are former senior police officers Luke Navela, Assistant Secretary-General for Safety and Security Unaisi Vuniwaqa and Acting Police Commissioner Juki Fong Chew.

Mr Khan said he has not applied yet but is thinking about it.

Mr Tudravu said: “I have not applied yet. I am currently at the village and will see because the closing date is September 30.”

He had earlier told this masthead that he would be applying for the position.

Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua had earlier stated that the appointment of a substantive COMPOL ‘should be a priority’ further urging the COC to appoint ‘urgently’. However, he then said the appointment delay was because such pivotal position was important with the national drug crisis.

Mr Tikoduadua had also indicated his favour for a local experienced person with the right calibre to fill the position and ‘not an outsider’.

In the advertisement, Secretary of the COC, Ropate Green said the successful individual must be conscious of how the Police role is perceived publicly.

Mr Green said the individual must be willing to work towards ensuring that the Police is recognised as an accountable, transparent and non-corrupt organisation.

The application closes at the end of this month, no later than 4pm.

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