Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police and Chief of Operations, Donald Yamasombi, has appealed to the people of Simbu to not block the Highlands Highway and harass and intimidate the travelling public.
Yamasombi made this call following reports that relatives of a policeman who was killed in Hela Province yesterday are allegedly setting up roadblocks today along the Simbu Province section of the Highlands Highway to target people from Hela.
“Whilst I am shocked and saddened with the killing of 45-year-old policeman Sergeant David Hale, who hails from Salt Nomane, Gumine in Simbu Province, I do not want opportunists to take advantage of his killing and harass, intimidate and worse, injure or kill, innocent members of the travelling public.
“We will apprehend the killers. We will bring them to justice. Allow the law to take its course.”
He called upon police in the highlands, especially in Simbu, to ensure that the road is clear and that the public are allowed to travel freely on the Highlands Highway.
He said additional police mobile squad members from Mt Hagen have been directed to move into Hela to team up with a platoon of PNG Defence Force personnel already in Hela to assist round up the suspects.
“I am in the meantime waiting for brief on the operational orders from the mobile squad commanders on the ground, including the Provincial Police Commander of Hela before I issue subsequent orders.
“I strongly condemn the attack and murder of a policeman who was in full uniform and on duty. This is total disrespect to the police force and the state and we will ensure that those responsible are caught,” Yamasombi said.
Sergeant Hale was shot and killed on Tuesday afternoon in an ambush by more than 70 men in the Hela Province. Sergeant Hale was the Second in Command of the Mobile Squad 9 based in Hela.
“This is a big loss to the Constabulary as Sergeant Hale had given 23 years of his life to the constabulary and had so many more years to contribute to the Police Force and the country,” Yamasombi said.
(Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police and Chief of Operations, Donald Yamasombi)