Samoa Police Force

Twenty officers were selected to be a part of the training, with the first ten members to begin training and assessments for the next two weeks.

The training was opened by Commissioner Auapa’au Logoitino Filipo yesterday, with the executive members present.

Commissioner Auapa’au expressed his gratitude to the Fiji Police Forces' Acting Commissioner, Juki Fong Chew, for allowing the training officers to travel to Samoa and offering assistance to SPPCS.

Samoa Police said all the gadgets will assist the unit in their role to combat transnational crimes impacting Samoa and the region.

“Although these items will not provide the answers, they will certainly assist the Samoa TCU to engage with and share information across the 20 Pacific Island countries that are members of the PTCN.”

The Samoa Observer reports the officers were initially to serve a 12-month mission but the global lockdown from the covid-19 pandemic delayed their return.

Police Commissioner Fuiavailili Egon Keil and senior officers held a welcome function for the officers this week.

Deputy Police Commissioner, Papalii Monalisa Tiai-Keti, says the officers arrived three weeks ago and were quarantined for two weeks before being released last Friday.

Papalii added that the police officers showed courage being away from their families for so long amidst a global pandemic.