US expand Training Opportunities

The United States Government has committed to expanding training and capacity building programmes between the Fiji Police Force and its law-enforcement agencies.

The commitment was relayed to the Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew during a courtesy call of senior officials from the U.S. Embassy Suva this morning.

The senior delegation consisted of the U.S. Embassy’s Regional Security Officer Special Agent Sam MacRae, Special Agent Jeremy Clark, FBI Special Agent and Legal Attaché Mark Raymond Nowak and Mr Eric Whippy.

S.A. MacRae said they were eager to expand training opportunities as they had the capacity to deliver the training in-house with officers from the Diplomatic Security Service, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Security Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigations based in Fiji.

The United States Government has facilitated training in the areas of peacekeeping operations, cyber-crime, investigations, narcotics, transnational crime, maritime skills and tactical safety and planning, and mental health wellness.

FBI Special Agent Nowak who will be based in Fiji over a period of five months says he is eager to support capacity enhancement efforts in the line of investigations, provide mentoring of complex investigations and be available to assist with investigative efforts between the two countries.

The Acting Commissioner acknowledged the United States Government's commitment towards the expansion of training packages in specialized fields, to counter emerging challenges in the global and regional security landscape.

He said Fiji will continue to ensure regional participation with the training opportunities, consistent with the Pacific Community for Law Enforcement Cooperation.

The Acting Commissioner said a number of officers were provided study opportunities at leading U.S. law enforcement agencies, and are now holding senior positions.

The current Director Narcotics Bureau SSP Serupepeli Neiko and Director Criminal Investigations Department Senior Superintendent of Police Loraini Seru were the recent candidates to study at the FBI National Academy.