Freetown – 70 personnel of the Freetown City Council (FCC) Metropolitan Police Force have officially passed out after successfully completing a six-week intensive training programme at the Sierra Leone Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy (SILEA) in Hastings.
The graduation ceremony, held at the Academy’s parade ground, marked the end of a rigorous programme aimed at equipping the officers with the knowledge, skills and discipline needed to police Sierra Leone’s capital.
Giving an overview of the course, the Commandant of SILEA, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Brima Kamara Esq., said the curriculum was divided into three key pillars.
According to ACP Kamara, the educational component focused on professionalism, discipline, human rights and the responsibility of the Met Police to the public. The drill and parade component instilled coordination, teamwork and proper conduct, while the physical training component built the strength, fitness and endurance required for effective law enforcement.
He noted that all 70 recruits were assessed through written examinations and practical exercises throughout the six weeks.
At the ceremony, the graduates, formed into two platoons, staged an impressive parade display and physical drills, showcasing the discipline and coordination they had acquired.
In her keynote address, Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr congratulated the officers on their transformation from recruits to full constables.
She reminded them of the huge task ahead, noting that despite their small numbers, they are responsible for serving a population of over two million people in Freetown.
“Professionalism, discipline, commitment and respect for the public are essential,” the Mayor said.
She thanked the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr William Fayia Sellu, for their continued support to FCC, and praised the management and staff of SILEA for preparing the officers.
Reflecting on the start of the programme, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr said: “Six weeks earlier, I saw you as students, but today you have graduated as full constables.”
She urged them to uphold the values learnt and serve Freetonians with discipline, professionalism and respect for human rights.
The programme ended with the presentation of certificates to all 70 graduates, who will now be deployed across Freetown to support sanitation enforcement, market control and protection of council property.
This is the second major intake for FCC in recent years, after the 2021 batch of 50 which was the first recruitment since 2010.
