Another petition against Police Commissioner Kelley

By Tevita Motulalo

THERE has been a second petition by members of Tonga Police against the leadership of Commissioner Chris Kelley, signed and submitted to the Minister of Police Hon. Viliami Latu.

The Minister of Police Viliami Lātū

Petitioners assert outright that the position of Commissioner of Police should have been given to a Tongan.

“What has happened to those who have acquired enough high degrees and renowned in the Department, are they bad and unworthy?” is the question asked in the petition.

The letter states that if nothing is done to address the matters raised in the apparent grievances, the morale, complacency, and corruption within the force will not get better.

The writers state confidently that “If the issues we raised were asked individually to all the members of the police, at least 95% will agree and believe the same as we do,” and signed by about 150 members of the force.

Chris Kelley the Commissioner of Tonga Police

The first part of the petition deals with the advancement, promotions and filling of the senior ranks. A lot of questions are raised regarding the process, which is alleged to be dictated by Kelley himself.

An example, amongst a host of others, is the attraction of an Officer in Charge of the Tactical Response Group, which was “publicly advertised by Kelley since taking office two years ago” said the petition. It said Inspector Latu was the successful candidate after the interview.

But rather than giving Inspector Latu the position, it was given to a Corporal Hala’ufia, whilst Latu was relocated to another division.

It seems that the petitioners are dissatisfied with the reforms Kelley is making to the longstanding and traditional procedures in Tonga Police.

A case mentioned concerns Kelley ordering one of the Police vehicles in its Transport division to be used by his daughter when she was in Tonga on a visit.

“Who does the law applied to and who does it not?” the petition asks.

Another issue surrounds Assistant Police Commander Fa’aoa, who returned from studies overseas and took one of the department vehicles and crashed it, and nothing was done about it.

Further, Fa’aoa is alleged to have taken a department vehicle and hit a child on the road, and there was nothing done about that either.

“We believe the staff refrained from pursuing the case because he is a senior officer, but the fourth clause of the Constitution dictates that everyone is equally subject to the Law,” the petition says.

Police Minister Hon. Viliami Latu said he has limited authority to deal with the grievances directly, so he has also submitted it to Cabinet to be considered together with another petition already in the hands of a special Cabinet Sub-Committee on Petitions.