A total of 16 police officers have been assigned to the newly commissioned Babonneau police station.
This was disclosed by Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony while presenting his remarks at an opening ceremony at the facility on Monday.
According to him, 11 males and five females will form the team of officers expected to facilitate the round-the-clock operations of the station.
The faction will be headed by Inspector Ronald Phillip with a sergeant and female corporal also instated. They will be assisted by a male acting corporal, eight constables, who include one female, in addition to three special constables, two of whom are females.
The new police station is expected to serve communities in and around Babonneau.
The prime minister took the opportunity to impress upon the station’s staff to build acceptance and credibility within the community.
“While the buildings are important, the people that use them make the difference as to whether its impact is felt or not.
“The police officer must be part of the social fabric, part of the culture. He or she must be respected and beyond reproach. Always remember that respect is earned; it cannot survive solely by virtue of office,” he said.
He added: “In fact, police officers must even see themselves as cultural agents, by promoting a culture of self-respect and respect for the rights of others, a culture of discipline, a culture of peace and order. The new police station is hoped to provide a sense of comfort for residents and the economic enterprises in the area as they will “now be comforted by knowing that there is a police station a few minutes away that can now respond to emergency calls. These communities can now benefit in a greater way from community-policing initiatives of the police force. This base can now serve as an early detection and prevention centre, dedicated to Babonneau and its environs.”